Rapper Kanye West discusses his reasons for wearing a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat and openly supporting US President Donald Trump in a new documentary titled In Whose Name?. The film, directed by Nico Ballesteros, features over 3,000 hours of footage captured over six years.
Resistance and Free Thought
“When I wear the hat, it ain’t about every one of this man’s principles,” West explained, referring to Trump. “It ain’t about. It’s not about the detention centres, which we know were here through a bunch of presidents. It ain’t about [does] a 72-year-old white man give a f— about Black people?” he told The People.
West said that wearing the MAGA hat was a statement against mind control and censorship. He referenced George Orwell’s famous novel 1984 and questioned whether simply saying the word “Hitler” could get him canceled or cost him his deal with Adidas. His remarks come after repeated backlash over past antisemitic comments and losing support from parts of the music industry.
Pressure and Backlash
In early 2025, Kanye was dropped by his talent agent following another antisemitic rant. Discussing his support for Trump, West described the intense pressure he felt before his 2018 appearance on Saturday Night Live. “I’m literally inside of current slavery and being accosted by my own people to not free my mind,” said the 48-year-old rapper, as seen in the documentary.
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Relationship with Trump
West also spoke about his admiration for Trump. The two met at the White House in October 2018 to discuss topics including tax cuts, prison reforms, mental health, and racism. He highlighted a 2020 WSJ. Magazine cover story in which he defended wearing the MAGA hat.
“I’m a Black guy with a red [MAGA] hat, can you imagine?” he said. “It reminded me of how I felt as a Black guy before I was famous, when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something. ‘This is your place, Ye, don’t talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you’re Black, so you’re a Democrat,’” he added.
Political Journey
Kanye West first publicly supported Donald Trump in November 2016, although he did not vote in that election. By 2018, he referred to Trump as “my brother” and visited him at the White House. In July 2020, West launched his own presidential campaign, though he later called it off.
