Obama Says Kanye West is 'Very Talented' But Still a 'Jackass' President Barack Obama has told The Atlantic he prefers Jay-Z over Kanye West, who he called "very talented" but still "a jackass." Obama memorably dubbed West a jackass inÂ September 2009 after the hip-hop superstar's notorious and rambling interruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at that year's MTV Video Music Awards. "I like Kanye," Obama told The Atlantic's David Samuels at a political fundraiser in New York City. He's a Chicago guy. Smart. He's very talented. Even though you called him a jackass? Samuels asked. "HeÂ is a jackass," Obama replied." But he's talented. The president has previously said that he has Jay-Z on his iPod, as well as Frank Sinatra, and opera legend Maria Callas. But no Justin Bieber.