Washington — Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West paid a visit to the White House Wednesday to make a star-powered case to President Donald Trump and his staff on behalf of a woman serving a life sentence for drug offenses.
Kardashian West has been urging the president to pardon Alice Marie Johnson, 63, who has spent more than two decades behind bars and is not eligible for parole.
It had been unclear whether the socialite would have the chance to sit down with Trump while she was in Washington, but Trump confirmed the meeting — as he often does — via Twitter, writing, "Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing."
He included a picture of the two in the Oval Office — Trump seated behind his desk and Kardashian West, dressed in all-black, standing to his right.
Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing. pic.twitter.com/uOy4UJ41JF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018
Attorney Brittany K. Barnett, a member of Johnson's legal team, said Kardashian West had hoped to discuss the issue with Trump directly. She said after the meeting that she had consulted with those who had attended and said it "seemed to go well."
"It is now in President Trump's hands to decide whether to save Alice Johnson's life," Barnett said.
In an interview with Mic released earlier this month, Kardashian West said she'd been moved by Johnson's story after seeing a video by the news outlet on Twitter.
"I think that she really deserves a second chance at life," Kardashian told Mic. "I'll do whatever it takes to get her out."
Johnson was convicted in 1996 on eight criminal counts related to a Memphis-based cocaine trafficking operation involving more than a dozen people. The 1994 indictment describes dozens of deliveries and drug transactions, many involving Johnson.
She was sentenced to life in prison in 1997, and appellate judges and the US Supreme Court have rejected her appeals.
Twitter on the other hand saw the meeting as an opportunity to drag the reality star and President Trump. Here are some of their responses.
You’re like her, on TV with no skills or talents.
— Words Matter (@teacheract19) June 1, 2018
Why? Why did you discuss this with her 😂 only got her there so you could have a sly wank under the desk! Dirty Donald
— Helen Wood (@Helen_Wood86) May 31, 2018
First we put Donald Trump in jail for treason charges. Then we can talk about the rest of it.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) May 31, 2018
This photo would only make sense if they were both photoshopped in.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) May 30, 2018
When, exactly, did @KimKardashian become an expert on prison reform? Have I slipped into some alternate reality where reality TV stars are experts? Are you going to meet with @OzzyOsbourne tomorrow to discuss cold fusion?
— Scott Robb (@scottobb74) May 31, 2018
wooohooooo well done Kimmy . She knows where her crazy husband going to end up. prison or to the psyc.
— Tay (@Tay23050801) June 1, 2018
Meanwhile, Kardashian West supported Trump's rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, during the 2016 election. But her husband, rapper Kanye West, recently offered his support for Trump in a series of tweets, saying they both share "dragon energy." Kardashian West defended her husband when he caught flak on social media for his tweets.