Stephen Colbert got famous by pretending to be a conservative political pundit, building The Colbert Report, his spin-off from the The Daily Show, around the satirical character he had created.
But all those years playing the role failed to bring him any understanding or empathy for those on the other side of the political aisle, and the idea that someone in the entertainment industry might actually profess support for conservative politicians or ideas remains a shock to him.
Such was the case when Kanye West posted several tweets expressing his “love” and support for President Donald Trump today, telling his followers that they didn’t have to agree with Trump but that “can’t make me not love him,” and calling Trump his “brother.”
West said that he and Trump were “both dragon energy,” which drew a flurry of mocking responses, but you don’t have to be a Kanye aficionado to know that sort of hyperbole is part of the rapper’s communication style. West clearly sees something in Trump’s persona that connects with him.
Overall, West’s tweets emphasized that he “love[d] everyone” and was endorsing “independent thought,” noting that he loved Hillary Clinton too and wouldn’t tell a Clinton supporter not to support her.
“I don’t agree with everything anyone does,” tweeted West. “That’s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.”
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
If your friend jumps off the bridge you don't have to do the same. Ye being Ye is a fight for you to be you. For people In my life the idea of Trump is pretty much a 50 50 split but I don't tell a Hillary supporter not to support Hillary
I love Hillary too.— 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
All this “independent thought” was too much for Colbert, who lambasted West in a segment on The Late Show that aired tonight.
Mentioning that West was getting “kinda political” on Twitter today, Colbert showed West’s tweet of a photo of a MAGA hat signed by Trump, and said that he would rather “set that hat on fire.”
“I think Kanye’s lobbying for a job as Trump’s new communications director — he can just change his name to Kellyanne Kanye,” mocked Colbert, referring to Trump adviser and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway.
Colbert even went so far as to directly ridicule West’s tweet about “independent thought,” reading it out loud in an incredulous tone.
“Yes, we have the right to independent thought,” said Colbert, “and I independently think Kanye has lost his mind.”
As someone who did not vote for Trump in 2016 and has publicly declared I will not vote for him in 2020, I have no hestitation calling this reaction from Colbert and his ilk insane. West tweets that he “loves everyone,” including Trump, and is encouraging “independent thought,” and Colbert thinks that means he’s “lost his mind”? Ridiculous.
No one better tell Colbert that Chance the Rapper also tweeted today that “black people don’t have to be Democrats.” He might spontaneously combust from the outrage.
Watch Colbert’s comments here:
TONIGHT: Stephen noticed #Kanye getting "kinda political" on Twitter today. What's up @KanyeWest? Are you angling for a job in the Trump White House? #LSSC pic.twitter.com/pKTSxnOTVe
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) April 26, 2018
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