In typical Kanye West fashion, the outspoken rapper shocked his fans with an unexpected tirade about the U.S. election, racism and Donald Trump at a concert in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday night. Audience members shared videos online of Westâs ranting, which monopolized an hour of the show according to one fan who live-tweeted the event. During one outburst, West declared that he didnât vote in the presidential election earlier this month, but if he did, he would have voted for Trump.
âIf I wouldâve voted, I wouldâve voted on Trump,â West announced.
"I would've voted for Trump" -
â albertoreyes (@albertoreyes)
The comment was met mostly by boos from the crowd although some audience members could be heard cheering in a few of the videos posted online. Some fed-up fans even stated in posts on social media that they were leaving the show.
Kanye just said he wouldâve voted Trump. San Jose is packing its bags up.
â Rahul Krishnakumar (@rkrishnakumar)
At the Kanye concert and he's been talking about politics, 2020, opinions, education system. People are sitting and leaving
â SheryAnne (@yema74)
Twitter lit up with angry posts slamming the musician for supporting the controversial future president.
And with that, Kanye is completely over, for me. I was hanging on to give him a chance. But, he's done.
â Îx Îp ⼠â/2 (@HeckPhilly)
Damn!!! , you're such a disappointment to the Bay Area, to the youth, and this country. #âď¸
â Anthony (@FlacoAnthony)
Kanye show was not the move. He lost me at "I would have voted for Trump"
â Jewel Burks (@jewelmelanie)
Kanye West on racism
The provocative musician told his audience that he agreed with some of Trumpâs ideals but that it didnât mean he doesnât support womenâs rights or Black Lives Matter movements. He told his agitated listeners they should stop focusing on racism in the U.S. because itâs just a fact. He said neither Trump nor Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton would have been able to change that.
âSpecifically to black people, stop focusing on racism. This world is racist, okay? Letâs stop being distracted to focus on that as much.â . âWe are in a racist country, period.â
West is known for making his opinions about race public. In 2005, he infamously declared that then-president George W. Bush didnât care about black people during a live telethon raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Many fans were just upset that they were forced to listen to his ideological views instead of the music they expected.
Kanye now playing Blood on the Leaves. There have been 13 stops, about 1 hour of ranting so far.
â Raptor (@RaptorJesuss)
Professor Kanye, will you be posting the notes online after lecture?
â Joe Manfredi (@joe_manfredi)
Kanye West really just ranted for half his show
â Edrizzy (@Edwardinho11)
I want a for my Kanye West tickets in San Jose, I've heard more than 30mins of ranting about politics! BS!
â David Kim (@kimcheeman)
Kanye West on running for president
The attention-grabbing rapper also took the opportunity to reaffirm his . Although he said he didnât agree with all of Trumpâs policies, West said he did admire his communication style. that he would run using a new model that would focus on education.
âWe can start with America. And bring together the best of all skill sets. Education, housing. Thereâs so many elements that Iâve been out here learning,â West said.
Twitter users had mixed reactions to the apparent seriousness of the musicianâs presidential bid.
Kanye just said he thinks he'll have the experience in 2020 to run for office, I'm dead serious, Kanye just said he's preparing for 2020.
â Raptor (@RaptorJesuss)
Kanye west running for presidency in 2020 don't sound so crazy anymore #2020
â jermaine pennant (@pennant83)