Chance the Rapper defends Kanye West’s praise of Trump

Grammy-winning artist Chance the Rapper took to Twitter to defend Kanye West’s apparent praise of President Trump on Wednesday.

Following tweets from West where he called Trump “dragon energy” and his brother, Chance seemingly shielded West from a wave of backlash triggered by his comments.

“Black people don’t have to be democrats,” Chance tweeted Wednesday.

Black people don’t have to be democrats.

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 25, 2018

Chance, who has been highly critical of Trump in the past, said in another tweet that the next president will be an independent.

Next President gon be independent

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) April 25, 2018

West pointed out on Twitter that he does not agree with all of Trump’s actions, noting that he doesn’t “agree 100% with anyone but myself.”

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.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018

my wife just called me and she wanted me to make this clear to everyone. I don’t agree with everything Trump does. I don’t agree 100% with anyone but myself.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) April 25, 2018

His tweets about Trump, which included a picture of himself wearing a signed “Make America Great Again” hat, prompted a response from the president, who tweeted, “Thank you, Kanye! Very cool!”

Kim Kardashian West also defended her husband, saying that he is a “free thinker.”

He’s a free thinker, is that not allowed in America? Because some of his ideas differ from yours you have to throw in the mental health card? That’s just not fair. He’s actually out of the sunken place when he’s being himself which is very expressive

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) April 25, 2018

She said that many people — including herself — have different opinions about Trump, but argued that Kanye is free to state his opinion.

Donald Trump Jr. also defended West saying he respects “those willing to take the lead breaking with convention” in a tweet linking to Chance’s comments.

It’s always incredible to watch a cultural shift happen in real time. I respect those willing to take the lead breaking with convention. That takes guts… though there’s a better word for it. https://t.co/01jMdg6ETa

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 25, 2018