Kanye West to lunch with Donald Trump this week

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and musician Kanye West at Trump Tower in New York City on Dec 13, 2016. /REUTERS
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and musician Kanye West at Trump Tower in New York City on Dec 13, 2016. /REUTERS

Kanye West is to meet US President Donald Trump on Thursday, the White House has confirmed.

The two men are expected to discuss prison reform, gang violence and and manufacturing resurgence in the US.

The meeting will take place less than four weeks before the mid-term elections in November.

The rapper, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump, will also meet White House senior adviser Jared Kushner.

On Monday, the singer-songwriter Taylor Swift endorsed two Democrats for the US mid-term elections, prompting Mr Trump to tell reporters that he likes "Taylor's music about 25% less now".

West, who is married to Kim Kardashian, wore a hat with Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" during his performance on the US comedy show Saturday Night Live a few weeks ago.

The two men previously met in December 2016, before Trump took office. At the time, the singer John Legend, a close friend of Mr West, called the meeting a "publicity stunt".

The rapper has also urged NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the first player to kneel during the pre-game national anthem in 2016, to "tell your experience directly" to Trump.

In April, West, who wishes to be referred to as Ye, released Ye vs The People, a track which expressed support for the US president.

He has also called Trump his "brother" and has suggested both men have "dragon energy".

West has previously announced his own plan to run for president in 2020, but has since tweeted "#2024", suggesting it is not clear whether he will challenge Trump at the next election.

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