Posted on 11/11/2025 12:46:04 PM PST by nickcarraway
The former Sex Pistols frontman has had a hot and cold approach to the US president over recent years
John Lydon has compared Nigel Farage to a fairground worker, and described Donald Trump as “the Sex Pistols of politics” in a new interview.
Read More: John Lydon on how he’s channelling grief into a new “raucous” Public Image Ltd album The former Sex Pistols frontman (aka Johnny Rotten) shared his thoughts on the two politicians during a new interview with The Mirror, and recalled the time he met the US President.
His comments came shortly after he told the outlet his stance on the royal family, saying that while he has “nothing against them as human beings”, he does believe that they are “born in a bird cage” and have things “overspent on them”.
Segueing into politics, he added of the Reform leader: “Nigel Farage is like someone you would meet at a fairground who says ‘do you want to buy one of these watches?’” and of Donald Trump, he shared: “I met him once and I did not like him.”
Lydon went on to share how the moment was at the VH1 music awards, which he was attending with his wife Nora – who died in 2023. “I had a show called Rotten Radio and I was invited. My lovely wife came with me,” he said. “Trump was going in with Jennifer Lopez and Nora trod on her dress and tore the train and they went nuts on us. It was a gorgeous fiasco. Trump is the Sex Pistols of politics.”
The former Sex Pistols singer has seemingly had a hot-and-cold approach to the US president over the years. Back in March 2017 he defended Brexit, Nigel Farage and Donald Trump when he appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, and described meeting Nigel Farage as “fantastic”.
Of Trump, he said: “There are many, many problems with him as a human being but […] there just might be a chance something good will come out of that situation because he terrifies politicians.
“This is a joy to behold for me. Dare I say, [he could be] a possible friend.”
Later that month, he doubled down on his claims, saying that the US business mogul and politician was “absolutely magnificent” and “a total cat amongst the pigeons”.
Speaking to Virgin Radio around that time, however, Lydon explained that he thought he was “misunderstood” when he claimed that Trump could become a friend.
He said that, what he meant was: “America now has a new President and whether you like him or not you have to support him or you will destroy the country. You got to make things work.”
“The attitudes that are being pulled on him are stupid and wrong,” the punk icon added. “He’s got some serious money issues and business concerns that deeply fascinate all of us but to be smearing him as a racist, this isn’t right, there’s no evidence or proof to that and until there is, I’ll stand up and say that I think that’s wrong.”
In October 2020, around the time of the US election, Lydon said he was voting for Donald Trump as he felt Joe Biden was “incapable” of leading America. The following month, he reaffirmed this stance, saying: “It makes complete sense to me to vote for a person who actually talks about my kind of people.”
“Trump’s not a politician. He’s never claimed to be. How unusually, exceptionally wonderful is that for people like me?,” he shared. “We’re bored with your intellectual left-wing ideas. We can’t take more of ya. You talk twaddle. Everything you do, you just miss the point of who the general population are…”
Earlier this year, Lydon spoke to NME about his past controversial championing of Donald Trump, and described the president as “one of the most horrible little runts I’ve ever seen.” He also added: “I’ll never like him. I’ll vote for him but that’s about it.”
Lydon is currently on the road as part of a new UK spoken word tour, dubbed ‘Untamed, Unscripted & Uncensored’. Next month, he will be headed out for live shows with Public Image Ltd., as the band head out for the new leg of the ‘This Is Not The Last Tour’. Visit here for tickets and more information.
Well I think Trump likes Sinatra and stuff in that vein. New York New York and all that. Sinatra was lots of things too I suppose.
Earlier this year, Lydon spoke to NME about his past controversial championing of Donald Trump, and described the president as “one of the most horrible little runts I’ve ever seen.” He also added: “I’ll never like him. I’ll vote for him but that’s about it.”
Elections shouldn't be a popularity contest, or voting for whom you "like" the most or with whom you most identify personally. It should be about their concrete ideas and policies.
GMTA
GBRE
This one jumped out for me.
Agreed.
there is a certain similarity
(but I was unprepared to take my political advice or analysis from a Sex Pistols bandsman...
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/165999936250708675/
Always liked his stuff from Sex Pistols to PIL. He’s a punk. Punks say crazy shite all the time. Punks are closer to right wingers (anarchy) than left wingers (totalitarians). At least he’s genuine. Like Trump.
SINATRA & TONY BENNETT
Elections are and have been a popularity contest at least since Kennedy v Nixon, if not before.
“I’ll vote for him but that’s about it.”
Yes. Trump and I in a conversation would go about a minute before he wanted me to jump to the doing part and I got tired of his attitude.
For choosing an executive I care about getting things done. The cult of personality is the lib way.
You can’t get much done without having a big ego. The ego is what allows you to put up with all the crap. I think Trump actually enjoys it. He dishes out what he takes.
Just thinking about this (Lydon) today. He seems to think he’s some sort of Oracle.
Trump was total punk rock. Didn’t care about how things are supposed to be done, the false authority of the established order and willing to put himself on the line about it.
Later punk rock became Punk Rock with the left stealing it after it was over.
I won’t say I can’t disagree with you more, but I’m hard pressed to find a way in which I could disagree more fully with you :)
I know of many people who get consequential things done without putting their personal stamp on everything; but few you’ve heard of for the same reason. You definitely need to be in people’s heads to do politics; for instance, Ben Carson went nowhere as a candidate in 2016.
I suspect “the Donald” doesn’t actually have as much ego as he projects, but finds the technique useful. That’s fine. Again, I didn’t vote for him thinking he would he would do things the way I would.
Every musical movement, whether it’s Haight-Ashbury in the 60s or Punk Rock in the 70s, only had a few months before it went “corporate”.
I always liked Johnny, from when he fronted The Pistols then his commentary in the years following.
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