Trump hosts Kanye for surreal Oval Office meeting

President TrumpTrumpTrump Donald TrumpTrump Trusts TreachTrumpTrump on Thursday hosted Kanye West for a wild meeting in the Oval Office after the rapper made a public display of support for the president.

Trump said "Kanye has been a friend of mine for a long time" as West, who was wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat, sat across from the Resolute Desk.

The mercurial rap star launched in a 10-minute, profane monologue touching on his own mental health struggles, the pitfalls of the prison system, the 13th Amendment, ways to improve life for African-Americans in inner cities, his relationship with sports apparel giant Adidas and a hydrogen-powered plane he said could replace Air Force One.

West's fans are no strangers to his disjointed speeches, which he often delivers to his concerts. A Trump came out surprised by West's display inside the world's most powerful room, sitting with his arms folded as he listened to the rapper speak.

"I'll tell you what, that was pretty impressive, huh?" Trump said after West concluded, prompting laughter from others in the room. "That was quite something."

The rapper said that the president might be surprised by his outspoken support.

He could not have thought he'd have a crazy motherf —- Kanye running up support, "he said.

The president was clearly pleased when West heaped praise on him. West credited Trump stopping a possible war with North Korea and the president of the United States.

West has gotten out of his face and has given Trump a side-hug. "I love this guy," said West.

Kanye West with Trump President in Oval Office: "I love this guy right here." pic.twitter.com/40Q24j5fRJ

– CSPAN (@cspan) October 11, 2018

The Trump, who has been criticized for inflaming racial tensions with NFL players, saying, "I have the balls to put on this hat. "

"What I need 'Saturday Night Live' to improve on and what I need to be good, we do not look good," the "Famous" rapper said of Trump. "This is our president, he has to be the freshest, the flyest."

"If he does not look good, we do not look good." This is our president, "West says of President Trump pic.twitter.com/VoXNy5f6rp

– CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 11, 2018

Trump returned the favor, saying Kanye "he's got a smart cookie, he gets it."

"Could well be," Trump said when asked if West could run for president.

"Only after 2024," West responded.

The bizarre scene played out as Trump and West were surrounded by television cameras and journalists inside the Oval Office.

It created an awkward split-screen effect on cable news, Hurricane Michael's coverage of a series of attacks, which has killed two people and caused widespread damage in the Florida Panhandle.

Trump is also embroiled in a diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia, a close U.S. ally whose government has been accused of the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, to whom his country is subject.

For days, however, Trump has been looking forward to his meeting with West, one of the few A-list celebrities to openly support his presidency. He spoke to it many times to reporters leading up to their get-together.

The president has repeatedly pointed to the West's support as he is more popular among black people than the polls say. The president won 8 percent of the black vote in the 2016 election, according to exit polling, and the Gallup's tracking poll has long shown Trump's support among African-Americans hovering between 10 and 15 percent.

Trump tweeted praise for West last week after he appeared on "Saturday Night Live" and received an unscripted speech to the audience hearing voicing support for Trump.

Like many, I do not watch Saturday Night Live – no longer funny, no talent or charm. It is just a political ad for the Dems. Word is that Kanye West, who was on MAGA hat after the show (despite being told "no"), was great. He's leading the charge!

– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2018

West is married to Kim Kardashian, the reality TV star who has recently been forced to forgive a non-violent drug offender. The rapper urged Trump to grant clemency to Larry Hoover, a gang leader who is currently serving a life sentence in federal prison but the president did not respond to his plea.

The White House said the meeting was called that of Trump and West could discuss manufacturing, urban revitalization, tamping down violent crime in Chicago and criminal justice reform.

Jared KushnerJared Corey KushnerVirginia Dem rips admin on Khashoggi McConnell looking at criminal justice reform after midterms Trump says he's spoken with, the president's son-in-law and senior adviser who has focused on prison reform, attended the meeting, as did his wife, Ivanka, who is also Trump's daughter and a White House adviser.

Trump and West did not see eye-to-eye on every issue. Trump's support for controversial "stop-and-frisk" policing tactics, West responded to Trump, "I did not mean to blast you like that, bro."

"I'm open-minded here," Trump said.

Former NFL star Jim Brown was also in attendance. Brown has long been outspoken about civil rights issues and has voiced support for the president. Brown, 82, spoke only briefly, saying it felt "good" in the Oval Office and that it looked forward to discussing their agenda.

The white house told reporters.

-Updated at 2:20 p.m.