Kanye West meets with Donald Trump at Trump Tower in Midtown

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Artist Kanye West was in Trump Tower Tuesday morning to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.

He arrived around 9:15 a.m. with a large entourage, and said "hey" but did not answer questions thrown at him. He was not accompanied by wife Kim Kardashian West.

West appeared later with Trump, who told reporters, "Just friends. Just friends. He's a good man, know him well, a long time. We've been friends for a long time."

West stood silently next to Trump for photos in the lobby of Trump Tower after their meeting. Asked why he wasn't speaking, West said, "I just want to take a picture right now."

As they left, Trump hugged West and said, "You take care of yourself. I'll see you soon."

Here's video of the post-meeting appearance:

Following the public appearance, West took to social media to explain the reason for the meeting:

And he continued his explanation:

The 39-year-old West recently spent more than a week in Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles for stress and exhaustion. Days before his hospitalization, he abruptly canceled his U.S. concert tour.

West was rushed by ambulance to UCLA from the home of his Hollywood trainer Harley Pasternak on Nov. 21. The trainer, who also works with Kardashian West, said the rapper was suffering from exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

During a concert in San Jose, California, last month, West said he didn't vote for president, but if he had, he would have cast a ballot for Trump. He also praised the president-elect's "method of communication" as "very futuristic" and spoke about his plans to run for that office in 2020, saying that he will become "a different kind of president."

Trump was shown in a video for West's single "Famous," released last year. It also featured Rihanna, former President George W. Bush, Anna Wintour and Bill Cosby.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.