Kim Kardashian West, 38, who is married to Kanye West (both shown above with Trump), spoke at the White House on Thursday afternoon.
She stood beside President Donald Trump and took part in efforts and messaging to help those who are leaving prison return to the workforce with as much strength and dignity as possible.
She was seated between Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump during the president’s remarks. Those in attendance then applauded as Trump mentioned her. She took the podium as Trump stood to her left.
“It really is such an honor to be here today,” said Kardashian, who has been advocating for criminal justice reform issues.
Last year she helped persuade the president to pardon Alice Marie Johnson, a then-63-year-old great-grandmother who received a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense.
Kardashian West paid legal fees for Johnson’s bid for clemency and hired an attorney to handle her case. The woman had spent 20 years behind bars.
See the tweets below on the White House event today:
Today, I’m honored to be a part of the announcement that the administration and the private sector are stepping up to create opportunities for these men and women to succeed once home.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 13, 2019
Proud to partner on this initiative with @Lyft, a company with a history of taking bold action to do what’s right for our community. Thank you for providing ride share credits to formally incarcerated people when they come home.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 13, 2019
She declared at the White House on Thursday that Trump’s support of the Second Chance program was “magic,” and also said the initiative had partnered with Lyft, the ride share company, to deliver gift cards to reformed criminals so that they’re able to get themselves to job interviews.
“My whole journey with criminal justice reform,” she began, “started about a year ago when I came to see the president after speaking to Ivanka and Jared, who really fought for me to get here. And I pled the case of Alice Johnson, who the president granted clemency to.”
Related: Why Kim Kardashian’s Kind Words About Donald Trump Matter
“And after that, I really spent so much time going to different prisons because I really had no connection to anybody on the inside and really just felt like for me — I’m at the place in my life that I wanted to make a difference and just wanted to do the right thing,” she continued. “But I didn’t know how or what to do or even really what was going on.”
She also said that after spending time at different prisons and observing them and the people there, her “heart just completely opened up” — and she found she “wanted to do more,” so she began studying the laws on this issue.
“Seeing the compassion that he’s had for criminal justice has been really remarkable.”
Kardashian addressed the new ride share partnership. “I’m so happy to be here today amongst people that want the same thing and that really believe in supporting their [the former prisoners’] re-entry.”
She also thanked President Trump “for really standing behind this issue.”
She added that “seeing the compassion that he’s had for criminal justice has been really remarkable.”
Be sure to see this tweet from her, too — and others as well:
Second Chance Hiring & Re-entry event at the White House today pic.twitter.com/kEUgqITmIE
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 13, 2019
I have so much respect for @KimKardashian
She went to the White House today to talk about the success of the “First Step Act”
She stood next to @realDonaldTrump and praised him for his leadership
The left will now mercilessly attack her for this
This took COURAGE!
Well done
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 13, 2019
While I have been able to offer support to some of the individuals I have met, the obstacles to success are an everyday struggle for thousands and more needs to be done.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 13, 2019
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