newsmakers

newsmakers

White House welcomes Kanye’s stated political bid

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE

Kanye West for 2020? The White House says it is anticipating the rapper’s potential bid for president.

West claimed he would run for president while accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says he looks “forward to seeing what slogan [West] chooses to embroider on his campaign hat.” Earnest was traveling to Alaska aboard Air Force One with President Barack Obama.

TNA Impact wrestler ‘Bram’ charged with domestic battery

GULFPORT, Fla.

Tampa Bay-area police arrested a professional wrestler after authorities said he pinned his girlfriend to the bed by her neck and held her in a room against her will.

Thomas R. Latimer faces charges of false imprisonment and domestic battery by strangulation. He wrestles for TNA Impact Wrestling under the stage name Bram.

Gulfport police said that Sunday, Latimer and his live-in girlfriend were arguing. When the woman told Latimer she wanted to leave, he prevented her from doing so.

The wrestling company said in a statement it has indefinitely suspended Latimer, who originally is from England. He previously was under contract with WWE but was let go after a 2012 arrest in St. Petersburg.

Latimer is being held in jail. It’s unclear whether he’s retained an attorney.

Obama to go on wilderness trip with Bear Grylls

NEW YORK

Survival expert Bear Grylls has bagged his biggest celebrity yet for a walk in the wilderness – President Barack Obama.

NBC and the White House said Monday the president will meet with Grylls during his visit to Alaska to discuss climate change, then spend some time in the wilderness. NBC said Grylls would give the president a crash course in survival techniques for an episode of his show, “Running Wild,” to air later this year.

Grylls has taped previous episodes of his show with Kate Winslet, Drew Brees, Kate Hudson and Channing Tatum.

Associated Press