Music

R.E.M. tells Donald Trump and other politicians to "go f*** themselves"

by Jeremy Mersereau

While I’d argue there isn’t a more appropriate theme song for the Donald Trump presidential campaign than R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of The World As We Know It”, it seems singer Michael Stipe doesn’t agree.

At a rally on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Trump came out to the Georgia group’s 1987 hit before launching into an angry diatribe about Obama’s recent nuclear deal with Iran, saying that he’d “never seen something so incompetently negotiated – and I mean never”. You sure about that, Donald? Never? You mean never?

Stipe’s response to the unauthorized usage, posted through R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills’ Twitter account, was succint and to the point:

A less expletive-laden, more measured official statement from the band came a short time later, through a Facebook post:

“While we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so, let us remember that there are things of greater importance at stake here. The media and the American voter should focus on the bigger picture, and not allow grandstanding politicians to distract us from the pressing issues of the day and of the current Presidential campaign.”

Aw… that’s way duller than the Tweets. Just imagining lil’ Michael Stipe shaking with rage, self-righteously dictating to Mike Mills while the bassist rolls his eyes has made this whole thing worth it. Just imagine if Trump wins! It’s almost as if this kind of thing is deliberately engineered to tick Trump haters off!