It’s been in an interesting few weeks to say the least. Not only has former President Trump announced his presidential run for 2024 on November 15th, but despite the mess Kanye West created for himself with the anti-semitic comments among other things, the musician announced his run for presidency five days later.
Trump held a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Tuesday and West, name legally now changed to Ye, was invited. Some of Ye’s remarks were documented by the Anti-Defamation League, and include downplaying the Holocaust and perpetuating conspiracies about Jews controlling various industries and harming Black people. Ye arrived and to Trump’s surprise allegedly had no idea the person Ye brought with him is white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Ever since the event Trump’s team has been handling damage control as he claims he didn’t know the identity of the far-right activist who was unexpectedly brought along with the rapper.
In a statement on Friday, Mr. Trump said: “Kanye West very much wanted to visit Mar-a-Lago. Our dinner meeting was intended to be Kanye and me only, but he arrived with a guest whom I had never met and knew nothing about.”
“We had dinner on Tuesday evening with many members present on the back patio. The dinner was quick and uneventful,” Trump said. “They then left for the airport.”
On Saturday, Deputy White House Press Secretary Andrew Bates denounced the meeting. “Bigotry, hate, and antisemitism have absolutely no place in America — including at Mar-A-Lago,” he wrote. “Holocaust denial is repugnant and dangerous, and it must be forcefully condemned.”
During Trump’s presidency and still after, he has had issue after issue with people not wanting him to be in office, and in fact while in office was impeached twice. Damage control performed by his team is not only necessary for Friday’s incident but it could hurt his campaign which just began.
