On Saturday, Kanye West took to Twitter and announced his intention to run for president of the United States in an election that is less than four months away. Almost immediately, Elon Musk and Mark Cuban, celebrities in their own right, signified their approval and support of his aspirations. Whether or not West’s pledge will turn into a brief but legitimate campaign isn’t really the question. Fame, fortune, and popularity make an obvious breeding ground for political ambition. And that is enough of a problem.
Those who make a name for themselves in the worlds of entertainment or business are already well acquainted with the power of their own brand. After these individuals conquer other arenas, the political one can look rather enticing. And since politics has its own variety of celebrity, it can seem like a natural extension from one to the other. However, these goals are driven by little than more self-promotion. In the case of West, it is readily apparent.
Even though most celebrities lack the experience or education to pursue elected office, many voters are infatuated with the idea. Voters routinely succumb to the lure of supporting someone who is already well known, even if that individual is not the best choice at the moment. Name and face recognition lend familiarity and often take the place of substance. For that reason alone, West’s stated goal has already reached a wide audience simply because of who he is, not what he would actually offer in the way of leadership or policy.
As others have stated, if President Barack Obama is a politician who became a celebrity, then Donald Trump is the opposite: a celebrity who became a politician. It is abundantly clear that celebrity is a powerful temptation to those who are considering who to vote for in a presidential election. As a candidate in 2016, the country knew that Trump was a very wealthy real estate mogul, reality show star, and charismatic personality on the New York scene. His decadeslong popularity and boundary-free behavior propelled him to the top of the Republican field and eventually, to victory on election night. Four years later, his previous life as a celebrity is barely a factor. Now, for better or worse, he has made a name for himself as president.
When celebrities says they want to run for president that decision alone should not be applauded. Rewarding popularity with the highest office in the land is not wise. That someone has the money and fame to instantly create buzz doesn’t mean their endeavor should be encouraged. Admiring an individual for their success, or even personality, in one field does not mean they should be considered for or will be successful in another. More often than not, celebrities are drunk on their own power, and if they do pursue elected office will do so in order to capitalize on what they have. Nothing more.
Politicians, especially those who make it a long career, compete with their own ballooning self-interest as they promise to serve their constituents. As we have seen time and again, the long-term goal of getting reelected will often cloud a politician’s short-term thinking. He or she may act in a way that endears voters first and foremost, even if that means bypassing the right moral decision. This flaw is bad enough when it is found among the noncelebrity crowd that wins elections and becomes fixtures on the national stage. When a celebrity pursues the same platform, that same type of self-interest already exists at an enormous level. Why, then, should they be given the keys to a job that should be one of service to their fellow Americans?
This is not the first time West has said he’ll run for president, and it probably won’t be the last. What would be surprising is if he actually put action behind his social media rantings. That he, a rich and famous man, treats the idea of leading our country so flippantly is yet another reason he should not be endorsed. The same should apply to all who wish to trade their non-political fame for elected power.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
