Kanye West just explained why he didn’t vote for Hillary Clinton—and it’s sexist AF

In April, Kanye West appalled many fans with his ringing endorsement of Donald Trump under the guise of “free thought.” Since then, the rapper has continued to court controversy, frequently wearing a red MAGA hat and even saying that slavery was “a choice.” Today, October 11th, Kanye’s support for President Donald Trump was on full display when the two met at the White House. During the meeting, the rapper said that a desire for “male energy” led him to support Trump.

Sitting across from the president in the Oval Office, NBC News reports that Kanye delivered a 10-minute speech about everything from mental illness to his MAGA hat, which he said gives him “power.” In a portion of the speech, filmed by Politico, the rapper told Trump that because his parents had separated when he was young, there was a lack of “male energy” in his home growing up. He further acknowledged that as the husband of Kim Kardashian, he’s now part of a family with “not a lot of male energy going on.”

Ye then seemed to connect this idea to the 2016 presidential election, saying that Hillary Clinton’s campaign didn’t make him feel masculine.

"I love Hillary. I love everyone," he said. "But the campaign 'I’m With Her' just didn’t make me feel—as a guy that didn’t get to see his dad all the time— like a guy who could play catch with his son. There was something about when I put this hat on [motioning to his MAGA hat) that made me feel like Superman."

“I love Hillary. I love everyone, but the campaign ‘I’m with her’ just didn’t make me feel — as a guy … it was something about this hat that made me feel like Superman,” famed musician Kanye West said of his MAGA hat while discussing masculinity, the economy and his brand pic.twitter.com/T06Z5tOSIU

— POLITICO (@politico) October 11, 2018

The notion that voting for a woman just didn’t “feel” right—regardless of Clinton’s experience, expertise, and platforms—is sexism in its most blatant form. And many Twitter users were quick to point out Kanye’s problematic comment.

Wait, did Kanye just say he supports Trump because of 'male energy' that Hillary didn't have?

— Nida Khan (@NidaKhanNY) October 11, 2018

Kanye basically said that he didn't vote for @HillaryClinton because she was a woman, although he loves her. Says he needed male energy because his father wasn't always there and his wife's family is also all female.

— P (@oceandreamer1) October 11, 2018

So what i got from this is bc Kanye was raised by his mom and didn’t have a father influence in his life, he felt he couldn’t vote for Hilary, simply because she was a woman and he needed “male energy”…no amount of daddy isssues in the world can justify your support for trump. https://t.co/038INRjxIw

— Caity Sheehan (@Caity_sheehan) October 11, 2018

false

It’s worth remembering exactly what the “male energy” in Trump’s campaign entailed: The then-candidate mocked a disabled reporter and claimed that Mexico was sending “rapists.” In October 2016, a leaked tape from Access Hollywood showed Trump bragging that he could “grab [women] by the pussy,” which he later wrote off as “locker room talk.” And at least 16 women have come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against the president, according to ABC News.

The fact that Kanye would look to Trump’s offensive behavior as an example of “male energy” is alarming, and his comments in general are a perfect—and disheartening—demonstration of the way both toxic masculinity and sexism are perpetuated in our culture.

If these comments enraged you, remember you have a voice, and you can use it on November 6th in the upcoming midterm elections.