Beiruting News

Kanye West has said he will run for president in 2020 as he collected MTV's highest honour at the Video Music Awards.

The rapper made the announcement in a rambling speech at the ceremony in Los Angeles - and after admitted smoking something to calm his nerves.

Watched by his pregnant wife Kim Kardashian, he said: "I still don't understand awards shows, I don't understand how they get five people who work their entire life, sold records, sold concert tickets, to stand on a red carpet, to come and for the first time in their life stand on the chopping block and be considered a loser.

"I don't understand it, I'm conflicted bro. I just want people to like me more but f*** that bro.

"I will die for the art, for what I believe in and the art ain't always going to be polite. I bet they are thinking right now if I smoked something before this and the answer is yes, I rolled up a little something to take the edge off."