After Kanye West, is Paris Hilton running for president?

Just days after rapper Kanye West’s surprise announcement that he would be running for president in the coming polls, millionaire socialite Paris Hilton has also announced her own candidacy on Twitter and on Instagram.

“#PresidentParis...I like the sound of that. #ThatsHot #MakeAmericaHotAgain” Hilton tweeted.

The multi-millionaire heiress of the Hilton empire then posted a campaign video, where she is seen posing for a photo shoot. In it, when asked if she is running for president, Hilton says, “Yes, I am.” When asked who her running mate would be, Hilton says, “Rihanna, she’s beautiful and talented. I think she’ll make a great VP.”

Curiously, much like how West’s announcement was followed by the backing of Elon Musk, Hilton’s announcement was replied to by Elon’s mother, May, who commented with a series of thumbs-up emojis on Paris’s post on Instagram.

However, whether Hilton is making a serious run is questionable (Rihanna has not commented on being named Hilton’s running mate). Some commented that her post was a joke at Kanye’s expense. Given her significant expertise in branding (Hilton has been dubbed the ‘original influencer’), it may well be a publicity-bid for her merchandise empire, which includes multi-million dollar businesses in perfumes, hospitality, clothing and more.

This would not be the first time Paris has joked about running for president. In 2008, she released a music video with the refrain “Paris for President” and the line “your commander in Bikini”.

“Let me tell you about my policies to stop the player hating on the USA. Incentivise nuclear non-proliferation and ratify Kyoto today,” she sang in the joke music video, released as a response to then-Republican presidential candidate John McCain using her image in one of his campaign ads.

“Paris for President, not another old cliché,” went one of the lyrics.

With both the Republican and Democratic nominees for the 2020 presidential election having already been decided, room for additional nominees is limited to those who can run as independent candidates in states that allow them to—the deadline to run has already expired in six states.

While the 2020 presidential elections are essentially a Donald Trump vs Joe Biden showdown, the candidacy of Kanye West could end up splitting the vote-base for Biden. While West had openly supported Trump in the past, even donning a red 'Make America Great Again’ hat and meeting Trump in the Oval Office, he grew quieter about this over time.

West announced his candidacy with a mention of his newfound spirituality. “We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States 🇺🇸! #2020VISION” West had tweeted on July 4.