The monologue, delivered in a red Make America Great Again hat, discussed racism and Democrats.<\/b>
\nKanye West promised that a new album would arrive on Saturday. Instead, he delivered three songs as the musical guest on \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d and an impromptu monologue at the end of the show mentioning President Donald J. Trump.
Mr. West, wearing a red Make America Great Again hat, continued his foray into off-the-cuff political commentary after the credits rolled for the season premiere, delivering a scattered speech that was cut off from some broadcasts. In footage from the crowd posted to the comedian Chris Rock\u2019s Instagram account, Mr. West can be seen musing on his support of President Trump and urging, \u201cWe need to have a dialogue and not a diatribe.\u201d
Mr. West, who is known for delivering similarly improvised addresses during his concerts, said he is often asked how he can support President Trump because \u201che\u2019s racist.\u201d \u201cIf I was concerned about racism,\u201d Mr. West said, \u201cI would\u2019ve moved out of America a long time ago.\u201d He said Democrats were responsible for a plan to take \u201cfathers out the home and promote welfare.\u201d The rapper also mentioned his long-teased presidential aspirations for 2020 and referred to the \u201cone-sided\u201d liberal nature of the entertainment world as the \u201cS. N. L.\u201d cast stood stoically behind him.
\u201cFollow your heart and stop following your mind,\u201d Mr. West said. \u201cThat\u2019s how we\u2019re controlled. That\u2019s how we\u2019re programmed. If you want the world to move forward, try love. Thank y\u2019all for giving me this platform.\u201d
NBC declined to comment.
Like many of Mr. West\u2019s recent actions, the performance instantly became an issue. Questlove, the drummer for the Roots, the rap group that also serves as the in-house band for \u201cThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,\u201d wrote on Twitter: \u201cWelp.\u201d He pointed his followers to Mr. Rock\u2019s video and added, \u201cI\u2019m going to sleep. I\u2019m done man. Done.\u201d
The rap producer Swizz Beatz, in a video posted to social media, addressed Mr. West and his Make America Great Again hat in unkind (and mostly unprintable) terms. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to stop,\u201d he said, arguing that President Trump was \u201cblatantly hurting our people.\u201d
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Mr. West has found himself at odds with many of his hip-hop peers since he visited with Mr. Trump in 2016 after the election, and reaffirmed his appreciation for him earlier this year in the run-up to an album, \u201cYe.\u201d \u201cYou don\u2019t have to agree with trump but the mob can\u2019t make me not love him,\u201d he wrote on Twitter in April. \u201cI don\u2019t agree with everything anyone does. That\u2019s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.\u201d
Some conservatives, including President Trump himself, have praised Mr. West for his position . \u201cThank you Kanye for your support,\u201d the president wrote on Twitter. \u201cIt is making a big difference!\u201d And he spoke up on Twitter Sunday afternoon, calling the show \u201cno longer funny\u201d and a \u201cpolitical ad for the Dems,\u201d but giving a shout out to Mr. West. \u201cWord is that Kanye West, who put on a MAGA hat after the show (despite being told \u201cno\u201d), was great. He\u2019s leading the charge!\u201d
\u201cYe,\u201d one of a string of albums Mr. West had his hand in this summer, opened at No. 1 on the Billboard chart in June, but faded commercially soon after. Mr. West announced this month that he would follow up the release with yet another album, \u201cYandhi,\u201d which he said would be available on Saturday night. As of early Sunday, the album had not yet materialized.
On \u201cSaturday Night Live,\u201d Mr. West performed three songs, instead of the standard two, including \u201cI Love It,\u201d his new single featuring Lil Pump, and \u201cGhost Town,\u201d featuring Kid Cudi and 070 Shake, from \u201cYe.\u201d He was also joined by the singer and dancer Teyana Taylor for an unreleased number.
But after the third number, which aired during the show\u2019s credits, Mr. West seemed determined to make a nonmusical moment. \u201cThey\u2019re laughing at me,\u201d he said. \u201cYou heard them? They screamed at me. They bully me. They bullied me backstage. They said don\u2019t go out there with that hat on. They bullied me backstage. They bullied me.\u201d
Representatives for Mr. West declined to comment.<\/p>\n

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