Presidential Candidate Ben Carson Discusses Kanye West on ABC’s This Week

Photo by Erez Avissar

Recently, Kanye West expressed his admiration for Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson, calling him “the most brilliant guy” in an interview with Vanity Fair. Today, Carson addressed West’s comments on ABC’s This Week. Host Martha Raddatz closed out the interview by asking Carson what he thought about West and if the two had been in touch. Carson praised West’s “business acumen” and said that he’s “certainly willing to give him a chance” as a presidential candidate. Watch the full interview and read a transcript of Carson’s comments about West below.

Raddatz: One final question, Kanye West told an interviewer earlier this month that when he heard you speak he thought you were “the most brilliant guy” and he tried to call you. First of all, I want to know whether you got in touch in the last few weeks, and what you think of him, whether you’d like him to help out with your campaign.

Carson: Well, I did have an opportunity to talk with him. I was extremely impressed with his business acumen. He knows a lot about business. And, you know, I talked to him about the possibility of him and maybe himself and some of the other people in the pop culture doing some music that might be uplifting, that might give young women a sense of their value and young men a sense of responsibility. I think it could be a tremendous thing in our society.

Raddatz: Do you think he’d be a good president some day? 2020?

Carson: Well, I’m certainly willing to give him a chance. We’ll see. He’ll be able to explain things and see if he resonates with the people.

Read our feature on West’s 808s & Heartbreak, “The Coldest Story Ever Told”.