Kayne West embraces Donald Trump at the White House, October 12, 2018 (Oliver Contreras)


“What happens when an irresistible narcissist meets an immovable narcissist?”

I spoke with Monocle 24’s The Briefing on Friday about Kanye West’s appearance in the Oval Office of the White House, silencing Donald Trump — looking for celebrity admiration and a boost with African Americans — with a rambling, expletive-laden speech from Superman’s cape to flying cars to hydrogen-powered airplanes.

The chat begins with spectacle in US politics but soon assesses what the episode says about Trump the President and about November’s Congressional elections.

Trump is a celebrity who is impressed by other celebrities, and he has been grasping for adulation.

He has been stung in particular that African American celebrities have not flocked behind him, so he has been very insulting of those like Colin Kaepernick and LeBron James.

Listen from 10:16: