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Donald Trump has denied any involvement after reports suggested Republicans are aiding Kanye West’s 2020 presidential election bid.
Since rapper West, who has previously supported Donald Trump, announced he was joining the race to the White House in July, sceptics have accused Republicans of encouraging the 43-year-old to run in order to siphon votes away from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
A report by CNN said longtime Republican lawyer Lane Ruhland, who has ties to the Trump campaign, dropped signatures off at the Wisconsin election board in a bid to get West added to the state ballot.
New York Magazine also reported how Republican operative Gregg Keller is listed as the West campaign contact in Arkansas, while Chuck Wilton, a Vermont Republican who is listed as a possible electoral college elector for Trump, is also cited as a possible elector for West.
Trump said he "liked West very much" but denied any involvementGetty ImagesBut Trump, 74, has distanced himself from these claims, telling reporters at his daily briefing he had “nothing to do” with getting West on the ballot – before laying praise on both the rapper and his wife Kim Kardashian.
“No not at all,” the president said in response to questions about his involvement. “Other that I get along with him [West] very well, I like him, I like his wife.
"His wife has recommended certain people to get people out of prison, they were in prison for a long time. A long, long time, it should have never happened.
“I took what she said very strong. She’s got a very good heart."
Trump continued: “I like Kanye West very much. I’ve got nothing to do with him getting on the ballot. We’ll see what happens, if he even gets on the ballot. But I’m not involved.”
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West’s recent behaviour has sparked concern for the star’s welfare.
After an official rally, where he claimed himself and Kardashian were originally planning to abort eldest daughter North, West then went on a series of now-deleted Twitter tirades, saying that he wanted to divorce his wife. He also called his mother-in-law Kris Jenner “Kris Jong-Un.”
West has now reportedly jetted out to a remote Caribbean island with Kardashian, 39, in a last-ditch attempt to save their six-year marriage.