Kanye West calls for the abolition of the 13th Amendment while wearing MAGA hat
Kanye West has been having a very Kanye West 24 hours. He performed as a giant Perrier bottle on Saturday Night Live, then was cut off at the end of the show during an impromptu pro-Trump speech to awkward silence and a scattered mixture of boos and applause. Which President Trump praised on Twitter.
Head spinning yet? It doesn’t stop there. West posted a message and photo to his Twitter account Saturday afternoon seemingly calling for the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
The 13th Amendment, ratified in 1865 in the aftermath of the Civil War, abolished slavery in the United States. The 13th Amendment states: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
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 pic.twitter.com/a15WqI8zgu
— ye (@kanyewest) September 30, 2018
It appears West is explaining why he is wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat and supporting Donald Trump. He writes, “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.”
He went on to say that “We will provide jobs for all who are free from prisons as we abolish the 13th amendment,” which may be a reference to prison reform, which his wife Kim Kardashian has spoken with the president and his administration about.
Regardless of his intent, people did not respond well to West’s tweet.
Huffington Post reporter Yashar Ali tried to unpack West’s meaning.
SNL musical guest @kanyewest says the 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, should be repealed. Yes, the 13th amendment also allowed for prisoners to be used as slave labor but he doesn’t articulate that in his tweet leaving people confused and others delighted. pic.twitter.com/aiEPVH4up2
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 30, 2018
Some thought the controversial star was just straight up wrong for this, including actor Chris Evans.
There’s nothing more maddening than debating someone who doesn’t know history, doesn’t read books, and frames their myopia as virtue. The level of unapologetic conjecture I’ve encountered lately isn’t just frustrating, it’s retrogressive, unprecedented and absolutely terrifying. https://t.co/4jCFwB4T5U
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) September 30, 2018
no, it represents racism and division. I always knew you’d fall into a cult someday, morons always do, eventually.
— God 🌈 (@TheGoodGodAbove) September 30, 2018
Mr. West the 13th Amendment is what freed the slaves. Please be more concise with what extent you’re referring to because this is what that grand sweeping statement is making your public image look like. pic.twitter.com/5Vjpuuk97p
— Rick Hawk (@thegreatkodama) September 30, 2018
One user bemoaned that the West who had inspired him now embraced a man who hates him.
Kanye West, who said slavery was a choice, just called for the abolition of the 13th amendment.
This is just terribly sad. The college dropout Kanye used to inspire young black men, myself included, and now he’s embracing a President that hates them. https://t.co/0VnpyLWy11
— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) September 30, 2018
Another shared a news alert about migrant children still housed in Texas, and pointed out that West was tweeting from the comfort of a private jet.
Yeah bro all good from the private jet. pic.twitter.com/5SpgkpMbuC
— lukewarm takes (@antistuff) September 30, 2018
Quite a few tweets pointed out that while West said the hat represented manufacturing returning to the U.S., the hat itself was made in China.
your hat was made in China, dude.
— Mikeoween III: Season of the Snoonian 🎃💀👻 (@mike_snoonian) September 30, 2018
where was that hat made?
— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) September 30, 2018
— Ash (@kissmyash_86) September 30, 2018
As are West’s Yeezy shoes.
— Matt (@_MattGriffiths) September 30, 2018
— (っ???)っ ? Big Worm ? (@althegnarly) September 30, 2018
And some people really liked West’s message.
Well said Kanye. Trump is the best president of all time!!! Make America great again!!!!
— \??cult??/ 🏴 (@___cult___) September 30, 2018
Kanye has been an outspoken supporter of the president. Notably, he tweeted in April that “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.”
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