Neil Young Encourages Americans to Take a Stand in New Editorial Critiquing Trump
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Singer-songwriter Neil Young has released a pointed editorial on his official Neil Young Archives website, strongly criticizing former President Donald Trump. In the piece, Young addresses ongoing political tensions and reiterates his long-standing opposition to Trump’s leadership.
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In his editorial, titled “It’s ICE Cold Here in America,” Young calls for readers to “wake up” and highlights what he perceives as a worsening political and social environment during Trump’s presidency.
The piece comes in the wake of a recent incident in Minneapolis, where a protester was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer, igniting protests across several U.S. cities.
“Today the USA is a disaster,” Young stated in the post published earlier this month.
He continued, “Donald Trump is destroying America bit by bit with his staff of wannabes…He has divided us.”
Young accuses Trump of promoting instability and manipulating fear for political gain, cautioning against what he describes as the militarization of American cities. “Make America Great Again,” he wrote, underscoring the challenge ahead while Trump attempts to turn cities into battlegrounds and evade accountability.
Calling for action, Young urges Americans to engage in nonviolent protests. “Something has to change this,” he asserted, adding, “We know what to do. Rise up. Peacefully in millions. Too many innocent people are dying.”
In his closing remarks, Young sharply critiques ICE, stating, “It’s ICE cold here in America.”
He denounces what he perceives as escalated enforcement tactics under Trump, reminding readers that “Every move he makes is to build instability so he can stay in power.” Young concludes by encouraging compassion over fear, emphasizing the importance of “love of life” and “love of one another.”
This editorial represents the latest in a series of public criticisms Young has directed at Trump over the years. Although Trump has previously praised Young’s music — describing his voice in a 2008 Rolling Stone interview as “perfect and haunting” — the artist has remained vocal in his opposition to Trump’s political views and the use of his songs.
Young’s artistic dissent has also manifested in his music. Last summer, he released the protest song “Big Crime,” which critiques Trump and how political leadership operates in Washington, D.C. The track features the lyric, “There’s big crime in DC at the White House,” and was later covered by the band Yo La Tengo.
In addition to his political commentary, Young has kept fans updated on his archival projects, including work on the forthcoming fourth installment of his Archive Series box sets, which will feature unreleased recordings and historical material from his extensive career.
