Donald Trump called rapper Kanye West “a seriously troubled man, who just happens to be black” after the ex-president was roasted for a gathering this week with the embattled hip-hop star and a white nationalist.
The 76-year-old Trump dined with West and white nationalist Nick Fuentes – each of whom are under fire for anti-Jewish remarks – at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Tuesday.
Trump had previously confirmed the meeting in an announcement to The Post but said Fuentes tagged along without the previous president knowing who he was. Fuentes had said “the mathematics doesn’t seem so as to add up” on Jewish deaths within the Holocaust, but later denied he was a Holocaust denier.
Trump unleashed a rant on Truth Social on Saturday.
“So I help a seriously troubled man, who just happens to be black Ye (Kanye West), who had been decimated in his business and virtually the whole lot else, and who had all the time been good to me, by allowing his request for a gathering at Mar-a-Lago, alone, in order that I may give him very much needed ‘advice,’” Trump said.
West, 45 – who now goes by “Ye” – showed up with three people, two of whom Trump didn’t know, the previous president went on. He also said he told West, who has said he’s running for president in 2024, “don’t run for office, a complete waste of time, can’t win. Fake News went CRAZY!”
Despite Trump’s comments, West had said in a social media video that he former president was “really impressed” with Fuentes. West had claimed he asked Trump to be the rapper’s vice presidential runningmate in 2024.
Trump, who has already announced his intentions to run for president in 2024, allegedly turned down the offer and insulted West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian. West, 45, has been facing backlash and the lack of business deals after a social media rant where he said he desired to go “death con 3” on Jewish people.
A source near Trump previously told The Post that Trump himself arranged the dinner with West, who showed up with the unplanned guests.
“The query is who added their names to the guest list,” the source said. “You may’t just walk in [to Mar-a-Lago]. Someone added their names.”