Two days after announcing his ‘eyes are wide open,’ Kanye West donates $126K to Chicago Democrat

In the wake of Kanye West‘s apparent leap from the Trump train, it’s being reported that he’s donated a hefty sum of money to a Chicago Democratic candidate.

On Saturday, the Associated Press first reported that West donated $126,460 to Chicago candidate for mayor Amara Enyia, who’s running to replace outgoing mayor Rahm Emanuel.

West, who had previously been a vocal Trump supporter and made numerous public appearances with conservative pundit and Turning Point USA communications director Candace Owens, announced in a tweet on October 30 that he’s abandoning politics for good.

“My eyes are now wide open and now realize I’ve been used to spread messages I don’t believe in,” West tweeted. “I am distancing myself from politics and completely focusing on being creative !!!”

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/1057382916760707072

That tweet came after a tweet where he accused Owens of mischaracterizing his involvement in her #Blexit campaign — a brand purporting to represent black Trump supporters.

“I introduced Candace to the person who made the logo and they didn’t want their name on it so she used mine. I never wanted any association with Blexit. I have nothing to do with it,” West tweeted on the same day.

In the run-up to his ‘eyes wide open’ declaration, West’s support for Trump was a flashpoint of criticism of him from those on the left and some of his fellow musicians. During a September appearance on Saturday Night Live, West donned a red MAGA hat and launched into a passionate pro-Trump rant on live television — a rant that reportedly continued even after the show ended.

Responding to backlash from his SNL appearance, West tweeted a photo of himself wearing a MAGA hat, declaring that “this represents good and America becoming whole again. We will no longer outsource to other countries. We build factories here in America and create jobs. We will provide jobs for all who are free from prisons as we abolish the 13th amendment. Message sent with love.”

The 13th Amendment is responsible for abolishing slavery in the U.S.

He later tweeted that “the 13th Amendment is slavery in disguise meaning it never ended We are the solution that heals.” In a followup tweet, he added, “not abolish but. (sic) let’s amend the 13th amendment We apply everyone’s opinions to our platform.”

West’s Trump enthusiasm culminated in a visit to the Oval Office in early October, where he explained why he finds Trump so appealing.

“I’m married to a family where there’s not a lot of male energy going on,” he said. “There’s something about … I love Hillary. I love everyone. But the campaign ‘I’m With Her’ just didn’t make me feel, as a guy that didn’t get to see his dad all the time, like a guy who could play catch with his son. There was something about when I put this hat on that made me feel like Superman. That’s my favorite superhero. You made a Superman cape for me.”

Featured image via screen grab/YouTube

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.