--- ---  # Ben Carson Says 'Certainly Willing' To Consider Kanye West for President  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Sep 27, 2015 2:54 PM UTC  Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson answers questions from the media at a news conference before a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center, on Sept. 22, 2015, in Cincinnati. Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson answers questions from the media at a news conference before a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center, on Sept. 22, 2015, in Cincinnati.John Minchillo—AP  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Sep 27, 2015 2:54 PM UTC GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson said he would be willing to consider musician Kanye West for president during a Sunday [interview](http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ben-carson-give-kanye-west-chance-president/story?id=34069428) with ABC’s “This Week.” West, who declared his intent to run for president at this year’s Video Music Awards, reportedly talked with Carson in recent weeks. The conversation included a discussion about business and how performers might write more uplifting music. Asked for his thoughts on a West 2020 candidacy, Carson said he would be willing consider it. “Well, I am certainly willing to give him a chance,” Carson said today on ABC’s “This Week.” “He’ll be able to explain things and see if he resonates with the people.” West told _Vanity Fair_ in a recent interview that he thought Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, was “the most brilliant guy.” Carson’s wide-ranging interview with ABC also touched on the migrant crisis and U.S. immigration policy. **Read Next:** [_Ben Carson Neck and Neck With Donald Trump in New Poll_](http://time.com/4051276/donald-trump-ben-carson-poll-wall-street-journal/) ### See Ben Carson's Life in Photos  An early childhood photograph of Ben Carson. Courtesy of Ben Carson Campaign  Ben Carson's graduation from Southwestern High School, Detroit circa 1969. Courtesy of Ben Carson Campaign  Ben Carson with his mother, Sonya, and his future wife, Candy after his graduation from Yale University, circa 1973. Courtesy of Ben Carson Campaign  Dr. Donlin Long, director of neurosurgery, left, and Dr. Ben Carson director of pediatric neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital, with brain model of the Siamese twins separated in a 22-hour surgery at Hopkins, Sept. 7, 1987, in Baltimore. Fred Kraft—AP  Dr. Ben Carson shares his personal story with middle school students on March 17, 2000 in Roswell, N.M. Aaron J. Walker—AP  Dr Dennis Rohner, Dr Beat Hammer, Dr Ivan Ng, Dr Ben Carson, Prof. Walter Tan, and Dr Keith Goh rehearse an operation to separate conjoined twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani from Iran at Raffles Hospital on July 5, 2003 in Singapore. Reuters  Dr. Keith Goh (left) adjusts the frame on conjoined twins Ladan and Laleh Bijani as Dr. Ben Carson observes the start of neurosurgery proceedings at the Raffles Hospital on July 6, 2003 in Singapore. Getty Images  Ten-year-old Indian twins Sabah and Farah sit beside Ben Carson (C), Managing Director, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, Anne Marie Moncure, their father Shakeel (L), their brother (R) and senior child specialist of Apollo Hospital, Dr. Anupan Sibal, on Oct. 4, 2005 in New Delhi. Raveendran—AFP/Getty Images  George W. Bush presents a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson for his work with neurological disorders on June 19, 2008 at the White House in Washington. Alex Wong—Getty Images  Ben Carson officially announces his candidacy for President of the United States on May 4, 2015 in Detroit. Bill Pugliano—Getty Images  Ben Carson poses for a photo during the Iowa Republican Party's Lincoln Dinner on May 16, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall—AP  Ben Carson speaks during the Energizing America Gala at the 2015 Southern Republican Leadership Conference May 22, 2015 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Alex Wong—Getty Images  Ben Carson at a political fund-raiser for GOP candidates on June 6, 2015, in Boone, Iowa. Jabin Bostford—The Washington Post/Getty Images  Republican presidential candidates from left, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Scott Walker, Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and John Kasich take the stage for the first Republican presidential debate on Aug. 6, 2015, in Cleveland. Andrew Harnik—AP  Ben Carson prays during church services at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines , Iowa. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  Ben Carson rides the Sky Glider with a reporter while touring the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  Ben Carson and his wife Candy on Aug. 18, 2015 in Phoenix. Ross D. Franklin—AP  Ben Carson is greeted by supporters at a rally on Aug. 27, 2015 in Little Rock, Ark. Danny Johnston—AP  Ben Carson at a service at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 2015 in Des Moines. Daniel Acker—Bloomberg/Getty Images Kanye West for President: Ben Carson Willling To Consider It ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4051309/ben-carson-kanye-west/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4051309/ben-carson-kanye-west/"},"headline":"Ben Carson Says 'Certainly Willing' To Consider Kanye West for President","datePublished":"2015-09-27T14:54:08.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:01:28.959Z","description":"Carson chatted with West on the phone in recent weeks","url":"https://time.com/4051309/ben-carson-kanye-west/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election topic","Kanye West","Dr. Benjamin S. 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