“Breaking News from the Sunken Place”: Trevor Noah Breaks Down Kanyes MAGA Tweets
Whatever you want to call Kanye WestsDonald Trump-focused Wednesday tweetstorm—a romance of late-sta..
Whatever you want to call Kanye WestsDonald Trump-focused Wednesday tweetstorm—a romance of late-stage narcissism, perhaps?—the online world was rapt as the rapper proclaimed his love for the president and posted, among other things, a photo of his very own signed Make America Great Again hat. So it was no surprise when late-night hosts spent a good deal of their airtime that evening trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
Like most of us regular folk, the comedians ended up with few answers—but a lot of questions and a lot of jokes. The ringleader? Trevor Noah, who said incredulously, “I dont even know what happened here. I think Kanye West just realized hes too rich to not be Republican?”
West has been on a Twitter spree of late, one that has become increasingly political. On Wednesday, he shifted his focus from a self-help manifesto to Trump, writing, among other things, “You dont have to agree with trump but the mob cant make me not love him. We are both dragon energy. He is my brother. I love everyone. I dont agree with everything anyone does. Thats what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.” Soon after, West posted a photo of his signed Make America Great Again hat. Kanye has previously stated that, had he voted, he would have voted for Trump—and famously had a meeting with the president at Trump Tower. Still, as the rapper fired off tweets at lightning speed, the Internet couldnt help but gawk.
As Noah announced the development on The Daily Show, he echoed an oft-repeated Twitter joke referencing Get Out: “Breaking news . . . from the sunken place.” (For the record, West denies that he is in the sunken place, the movies term for the twilight space black people are forced into when theyre hypnotized by white oppressors; Get Out writer and director Jordan Peele, however, is not convinced.)
“And you know that this is also going to confuse people on Fox News, right?” Noah continued. “Because theyre probably going to be like: Why dont these celebrity rap thugs stay out of politics and . . . Sorry, I mean, this guy understands the American people. He understands all of them.”
But the person Noah really wants to hear from is George W. Bush. After all, West proclaiming in 2005 that “George Bush doesnt care about black people” was a viral cultural moment—and now he appears to have allied himself with someone far more openly prejudiced. “When George Bush sees this on Twitter, hes gonna be like, What the fuck?!” Noah said.
On The Late Show,Stephen Colbert was similarly baffled and amused.
“Kanye is getting kind of political,” Colbert said. “He tweeted, my MAGA hat is signed, followed by 30 fire emojis. Now, that is fitting—because that is how many times I would set that hat on fire.”
As for why West might be doing all this, Colbert had one plausible guess: “I think Kanyes lobbying for a job as Trumps new communications director; they could just change his name to Kellyanne Kanye.” As for Wests insistence that Trump is his “brother,” Colbert couldnt agree more: “You know what, Kanye? Donald Trump is your brother; it is true. I am your brother, too. And brother to brother, I just want to say, Put. The phone. Down.”
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:How to Be the Perfect Celebrity Father: A Photographic Guide
Prince William carries Prince George
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 5
When Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge left the hospital with the future King of England, Kate entrusted her husband with holding their precious cargo. William successfully navigated one of the most difficult dad-plus-baby-carrier obstacles: stairs. Then, he reached the next physical challenge in the dad Double Dare course: placing the carrier in the car. He did so with aplomb, thereby leveling up in the fatherhood process.
Photo: By Samir Hussein/Getty Images.
John Legend carries Luna.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 5
Making sure his daughter is settled in properly after placing the carrier on the stroller post-brunch is the stuff of dad legends.
Photo: From Splash News.
Kanye West carries Saint
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 5
Being trusted to hold the baby carrier is right up there with having your finger on the button. Its serious stuff. It means that when the baby cries, youre going to be the first to hear it. You need to be on sun protection duty, making sure to lower the visor the second it gets even slightly bright outside (and yes, it can be too “sunny” for an infant on a cloudy day). Even Yeezy knows this—hes a father of two now. Look at him, carefully using two hands on that carrier as he and Kim head into a gauntlet of photographers. Yeezus walks more carefully when hes carrying North and Saint.
Photo: From Splash News.
Jay Z takes Blue Ivy to the red carpet.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Non-celebrity children get to dress up for special events like family weddings, bar mitzvahs, and maybe a grandparents 80th birthday party. Celebrity offspring, on the other hand, get to don their finest outfits (which are usually custom-made by their parents designer friends) to attend movie premieres, galas, or other red-carpet events. There, theyll be photographed alongside their proud, smiling dads, as Blue Ivy was as she and Jay Z made their way into the 2016 C.F.D.A. Awards.
Photo: by Robert Kamau/GC Images.
Steph and Riley Curry at the N.B.A. finals.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Sports dads are always fun dads, especially when they take their precocious kids onto the court to celebrate their victories. Sports dads also have headwear in their starter packs, but theyre usually baseball hats, not newsboy caps. The celebrity dad starter pack fashion Venn diagram can get tricky, so you have to figure out where exactly youre taking your kids before you figure out what to put on your head. Let the activity guide your hat choice, not the reverse.
Photo: by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images.
Tom Brady, John, and Benjamin at Super Bowl XLIX.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
“Tom Brady, you just won the Super Bowl. What are you doing next?” “Im taking my family on the field and dad-ding the f**k out!”
Photo: by Jamie Squire/Getty Images.
Harper and David Beckham at Dodger Stadium.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Game? What game? This is how you dad it.
Photo: by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images.PreviousNext
Prince William carries Prince George
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 5
When Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge left the hospital with the future King of England, Kate entrusted her husband with holding their precious cargo. William successfully navigated one of the most difficult dad-plus-baby-carrier obstacles: stairs. Then, he reached the next physical challenge in the dad Double Dare course: placing the carrier in the car. He did so with aplomb, thereby leveling up in the fatherhood process.
By Samir Hussein/Getty Images.
John Legend carries Luna.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 5
Making sure his daughter is settled in properly after placing the carrier on the stroller post-brunch is the stuff of dad legends.
From Splash News.
Kanye West carries Saint
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 5
Being trusted to hold the baby carrier is right up there with having your finger on the button. Its serious stuff. It means that when the baby cries, youre going to be the first to hear it. You need to be on sun protection duty, making sure to lower the visor the second it gets even slightly bright outside (and yes, it can be too “sunny” for an infant on a cloudy day). Even Yeezy knows this—hes a father of two now. Look at him, carefully using two hands on that carrier as he and Kim head into a gauntlet of photographers. Yeezus walks more carefully when hes carrying North and Saint.
From Splash News.
Jay Z takes Blue Ivy to the red carpet.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Non-celebrity children get to dress up for special events like family weddings, bar mitzvahs, and maybe a grandparents 80th birthday party. Celebrity offspring, on the other hand, get to don their finest outfits (which are usually custom-made by their parents designer friends) to attend movie premieres, galas, or other red-carpet events. There, theyll be photographed alongside their proud, smiling dads, as Blue Ivy was as she and Jay Z made their way into the 2016 C.F.D.A. Awards.
by Robert Kamau/GC Images.
Orlando Bloom takes Flynn to the red carpet.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Here we have young Flynn Bloom attending his dads Hollywood Walk of Fame star-unveiling ceremony. Orlando is most likely thrilled to be receiving a star, and to have his son there for the occasion. Flynn, on the other hand, is probably glad that hes been placated with candy (see: the bag from Sugar in his hand). Plying ones child with sugary treats is a well-established part of the dad starter pack. How else do you get a toddler to pose for a scary crowd of screaming strangers with cameras? The celebrity dad knows: the secret is candy.
by Jason Kempin/Getty Images.
Matthew McConaughey takes Livingston, Levi, and Vida to the red carpet.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
The Walk of Fame star ceremony is a tried-and-true celebrity dad milestone. The whole family must come out to celebrate. We witness his triumph, and we find a level of comfort we did not expect in his new family-man status.
by Jason Merritt/Getty Images.
Benedict Cumberbatch in the pop-pop newsboy cap.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 4
Fact: You can only wear this hat if youre a dad (or about to become one, as Cumberbatch was in this photo), or if youre carrying the banner for New York circa 1899.
By MIKE EMORY/Splash News.
Ryan Reynolds in the pop-pop newsboy cap.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 4
Witness Ryan Reynolds, trying to up the cool factor of his dad cap with sunglasses and Chuck Taylors. Is it working? You be the judge.
From Splash News.
Brad Pitt in the pop-pop newsboy cap.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 4
Theres a reason Brad Pitt rhymes with Dad Pitt. Its the role he was born to play.
By James Devaney/Getty Images.
Steph and Riley Curry at the N.B.A. finals.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Sports dads are always fun dads, especially when they take their precocious kids onto the court to celebrate their victories. Sports dads also have headwear in their starter packs, but theyre usually baseball hats, not newsboy caps. The celebrity dad starter pack fashion Venn diagram can get tricky, so you have to figure out where exactly youre taking your kids before you figure out what to put on your head. Let the activity guide your hat choice, not the reverse.
by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images.
Tom Brady, John, and Benjamin at Super Bowl XLIX.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
“Tom Brady, you just won the Super Bowl. What are you doing next?” “Im taking my family on the field and dad-ding the f**k out!”
by Jamie Squire/Getty Images.
Harper and David Beckham at Dodger Stadium.
Level of Dad-dom (on a scale of 1-5): 3
Game? What game? This is how you dad it.
by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images.
Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
