CHICAGO — Rapper Kanye West said on Twitter his Tuesday visit to New York's Trump Tower to meet with president-elect Donald Trump was to discuss "multicultural issues," including violence in Chicago.
I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
The rapper, who has often said that he would run for president in the future, also hinted he wouldn't run against Trump in 2020.
#2024
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016
The rapper walked away from the meeting with a memento: a signed copy of Time magazine's 2016 Person of the Year issue.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 14, 2016
During his presidential campaign, Trump often talked about violence in Chicago comparing the city to a "war-torn" country and saying police could end the city's violence "in one week" if they wanted to.
Chicago Police were critical of Trump's statements.
"If you have a magic bullet to stop the violence anywhere — not just in Chicago, but in America — please share it with us," Supt. Eddie Johnson said in response. "We'd be glad to take that information and stop this violence."
Earlier Tuesday, Trump and West hugged it out in front of the cameras at Trump Tower, with the president-elect saying the pair discussed "life."
"So long man" pic.twitter.com/kVx7I5NPEp
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) December 13, 2016
"We've been friends for a long time," Trump told reporters after bro-hugging the Saint Pablo rapper at Trump Towers Tuesday morning.
The president-elect also called Kanye "a good man."
TRUMP on meeting with KANYE: We're "just friends", "we discussed life". Trump then said "so long man...see you soon" as he headed out pic.twitter.com/ThC11I7jZ8
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) December 13, 2016
Omg, KANYE is at TRUMP TOWER right now pic.twitter.com/uFtVgbRgRz
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) December 13, 2016
"I just want to take a picture right now," Kanye said while standing stone-faced when asked multiple questions by reporters, including why he didn't have a comment about meeting the president-elect. He also didn't respond to a question about whether he regretted not voting for Trump.
Trump spokeswoman confirms Kanye is meeting with Trump. https://t.co/ueEPCQXA2A
— Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) December 13, 2016
West drew boos from fans during a concert in San Jose on Nov. 17 when he praised the president-elect.
Kanye said last month that he didn't vote, but if he did, "I would have voted for Trump," adding that he plans to run for president in 2020.
The musician is the latest in a string of high-profile people to meet with Trump before he assumes office in January.
West's meeting also comes the same day that Trump named oil executive Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state, reports said.
The move angered many because of Tillerson's close ties to Russia, which the White House has said waged a campaign to sway the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor.
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