Atlanta rapper Soulja Boy (born DeAndre Cortez Way) posted on social media on October 10, 2026, under the banner “SOULJA BOY 2028,” floating the idea of a White House bid. The posts framed the concept as “a new chapter” and “a bigger vision,” with a stated commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation.
Soulja Boy Teases 2028 Presidential Run
In the accompanying statement, he identified four priority areas: economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, education, and the future of technology and AI. He wrote, “From music to business to technology, I’ve always believed in thinking bigger and challenging what’s possible. Now I’m exploring what it means to bring that same vision to public service. The future starts with a conversation.” He also shared a simple “Vote for Soulja Boy 2028.”
Reports from Billboard, Complex, AllHipHop, and others emphasize that the posts stop short of a formal campaign launch. There are no detailed policy proposals, announced campaign organization, or reported Federal Election Commission filings at this stage. The language is exploratory rather than declarative.
Way, born July 28, 1990, in Chicago and raised primarily in Atlanta, would be 38 during the 2028 election cycle—meeting the U.S. Constitution’s minimum age requirement of 35. He first rose to fame as a teenager with the self-promoted 2007 single “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” one of the earliest major viral internet hits. The track spent seven nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped establish a playbook for online-first music careers. His debut album souljaboytellem.com reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200; subsequent hits included “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” and “Turn My Swag On.” He has long mixed music with business and technology ventures.
This is not his first proximity to presidential politics. In January 2019, Saturday Night Live aired a sketch (with Chris Redd portraying him) inspired by a viral interview, imagining a Soulja Boy presidential run in which the character claimed credit for inspiring both Donald Trump and Barack Obama; Way shared the parody at the time. More recently, he performed at the Crypto Ball, an event tied to Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration festivities, and later dismissed criticism by noting he had been paid well for the appearance.
Online reaction has been swift and largely memetic, with comparisons to Kanye West (Ye), who previously launched presidential bids and received a small number of votes (around 60,000 in one cycle). Some users treated the announcement as pure entertainment or content; others noted the long odds facing any celebrity outsider candidacy. Coverage has consistently flagged the gap between a social-media tease and the infrastructure, fundraising, ballot access, and policy development required for a serious presidential effort.
Whether the posts represent a genuine exploration of public service, brand extension, or something in between remains open. As of October 11, 2026, Soulja Boy has started a conversation; a formal campaign has not yet begun.
