Former President Donald Trump, 76, hosted 45-year-old Kanye West and 24-year-old known anti-Semite Nick Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago, sparking instant condemnation form the Jewish community, Trump admitted that Kanye West is a “seriously troubled man, who happens to be Black,” defending his decision to host Kanye, a one time supporter of Trump’s 2020 campaign. When it comes to Fuentes, Kanye brought him to Mar-a-Lago, with Trump saying he had no idea who he was. Fuentes gained publicity as a white supremacist and anti-Semite. Trump said on Truth Social, Trump’s personal Twitter-like network, that he knew nothing about Fuentes. Trump had heard in recent weeks the billions in loss Kanye sustained for his “death con 3” comments about Jews, something that resulted in Kanye losing many of his commercial endorsements. Trump said Kanye had been “decimated” financially.
Since Trump announced for president Nov. 15, he’s been rocked with the Nov. 18 appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith to evaluate the criminal evidence, if any, against Trump for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and classified documents seized at Mar-a-Lago by the FBI. When 70-year-old Merrick Garland appointed Smith Special Counsel, it floored Trump, after spending 22-months dealing with the Robert Mueller Special Counsel investigation. Turns out Mueller had dementia when he finally concluded March 19, 2019 that he cleared Trump of any wrongdoing in the $40 million probe. When it comes to the Jan. 6 case or Mar-a-Lago classified documents, three’s even more dicey evidence that Trump committed any crimes, even thought possessing classified docs is considered a violation of several document acts. Trump faces more scrutiny with Smith snooping around.
Kanye acted crazy at his brief dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago suggesting he’d run for president in 2024. Kanye already ran in 2020, gathering a much publicity as possible when he had no prayers or winning anything. Now Kanye tells Trump he’d like him to run as his running mate, even more madness coming from Kanye. Kanye wore at Sweatshirt to Mar-a-Lago saying “White Lives Matter,” a slogan used by White supremacist groups to counter nationwide protests by Black Lives Matter, especially in the 2020 campaign during the May 25, 2020 George Floyd Minneapolis Police murder. When Trump talks of Kanye as a “seriously troubled man,” he underestimates the extent of the once successful rap artist and record producer. Kanye insists that Trump as “perturbed” when he told him his plans to run for president in 2024, something Trump said was a “waste of time.”
Anti-Trump media ha\d a field day with Trump hosting Kanye and his friends at Mar-a-Lago. Trump has no reaction to hosting them because he didn’t take it seriously, other than the anti-Semitic fallout from hosting Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago. Trump gave Kanye some advice about running for president: :A total waste of time, can’t win.” Kanye, who’s current mental state is very much in question, said he felt close to Trump from his days backing Trump’s 2020 campaign. Trump didn’t invite Kanye to Mar-a-Lago, simply honored a request by the former husband of billionaire socialite Kim Kardashian. Trump’s every move is followed in the press, hoping to catch him in another scandal. Calling 24-year-old Nick Fuentes an anti-Semite and White Supremacist completely exaggerates his young background. Trump said Kanye also brought Karen Giorno, Trump’s former Florida campaign manger, to Mar-a-Lago.
Anything Democrats and the press can use against Trump they’ll gladly do. Hosting Kanye, Fuentes and Giorno, mean nothing in the scheme of things. Whether Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign takes off is anyone’s guess. Among his peers that plan to run for president, Trump has the edge in staging rallies, commanding big audiences and a lot of attention. Everyone thinking about joining the 2024 scrum, no one has Trump’s campaign stature, capable to entertaining large audiences. It’s easy for the anti-Trump crowd, including 52-year-old former House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), says the 2024 field will produce a better option to Trump. But no one has the proven track record of Trump of running well-attended campaign rallies. No one really knows whether 44-year-old Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is ready to step up to primetime on a national stage.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, turned Trump enemy, blasted Trump for hosting Kanye and Nick Fuentes at Mar-a-Lago. Out of office since 2018, Christie has been testing the water for another presidential run. His last one in 2016 against Trump didn’t go too far. Christie has been a vocal critic of Trump, hoping to be seen by the GOP as a legitimate contender in 2024. Christie manages to keep himself in the liberal press, often inviting him to take shots at Trump. Trump’s meeting with Kanye and Nick Fuentes gave his critics more ammunition, though the hubbub will die quickly. Announcing first for 2024, Trump go at jump on everyone sitting on the fence, not sure whether to toss their hats in the right. If Trump can get trough Special Counsel Jack Smith, there’s won’t be too many legal obstacles left for Democrats to stop Trump for running in 2024.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
