John Legend Opens Up About Kanye West's Views On Donald Trump

Kanye West made a lot of enemies when he professed his undying love for President Donald Trump back in 2018. The controversial rapper took to Twitter to proclaim, seemingly out of nowhere, "You don't have to agree with [Trump] but the mob can't make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I don't agree with everything anyone does. That's what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought." Trump retweeted West to thank him for his support, per The Guardian. During a subsequent interview with the Wall Street Journal, West compared the intense backlash to his unwavering support of Trump to racial profiling and discrimination. 

He argued, "It reminded me of how I felt as a black guy before I was famous, when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something. 'This is your place, Ye, don't talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you're black, so you're a Democrat.'" West later infamously, yet briefly, ran for president himself. He then walked back his support of Trump in a chat with Forbes, describing his administration as "one big mess." It's difficult to make sense of where West's political leanings actually stem from, or to track where they might go next. But, thankfully, his celeb buddy John Legend is on hand to explain why the rapper supported Trump in the first place. 

It's tough to understand why Kanye West does and says most things, but long-time pal John Legend shed some light on one of his most widely derided stances. During an interview with author Danny Goldberg, for his book, "Bloody Crossroads 2020: Arts, Entertainment, and Resistance to Trump," Legend admitted, "I don't see Kanye as a political person at all." Per People, the duo never discussed politics during their lengthy friendship, nor did the rapper vote before the 2020 election rolled around. In fact, as far as Legend is concerned, West idolized Donald Trump because, "He saw in Trump the kind of underdog narcissist that he sees in himself." Although the two men have been friends for many years, they disagree completely on politics.

In 2018, West shared a private message from Legend, during which he encouraged his friend to reconsider aligning himself with the controversial politician. The musician warned, "You're way too powerful and influential to endorse who he is and what he stands for. As you know, what you say really means something." He went on to argue that fans of West's, and particularly fellow POC, felt "betrayed" by his support of Trump. West replied, "I love you John and I appreciate your thoughts. You bringing up my fans or my legacy is a tactic based on fear used to manipulate my free thought." Legend later admitted to The Sunday Times that "the Trump thing" had driven a wedge between them.