Neil Young's new release ""World Record" w/ Crazy Horse is now available for pre-order. Order here (Please shop locally & independently. But if you can't, we appreciate your supporting Thrasher's Wheat by clicking this link
or YOUR COUNTRY's FLAG. Thank you!!!) ADVERTISEMENT
An unofficial news blog for Neil Young fans from Thrasher's Wheat with concert and album updates, reviews, analysis, and other Rock & Roll ramblings. Separating the wheat from the chaff since 1996.
Over recent years, both Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have been very outspoken with their criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Last year, Neil Young issued a statement of support for Bruce Springsteen, after a Springsteen concert on May 14, 2025 in Manchester, UK in which he spoke negatively about the current Trump Administration.
As a dual Canadian-American citizen, I join the vast majority in thanking you for speaking so eloquently and truthfully on behalf of the American people,
Neil Young continues to challenge US President Trump with his latest statement on Neil Young Archives: (thanks Brother Alan!)
"TRUMP!!! What are you worried about, man?
Bruce and thousands of musicians think you're ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dying children in Gaza. That's your problem. I'm not afraid of you. And neither are the rest of us. You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That's your problem, Trump.
STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS SAY. Think about saving America from the mess you made. Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel. You're more worried about yourself than AMERICA. Wake up, Trump!! Remember what the White House is?
86/47??? That's what you're thinking about? You're forgetting your real job. You work for us. Wake up, Republicans! This guy is out of control. We need a real president!
Neil Young has issued a statement of support for Bruce Springsteen, after a Springsteen concert on May 14 in Manchester, UK in which he spoke negatively about the current Trump Administration. (Thanks Road Dawg!)
Bruce Springsteen
Manchester, UK - May 14, 2025
Bruce Springsteen said to 20,000 fans that a corrupt and treacherous government was in power in the US. He called Trump an "incompetent president" of a "rogue government."
As a dual Canadian-American citizen, I join the vast majority in thanking you for speaking so eloquently and truthfully on behalf of the American people,
Obviously, -- at least so we would like to think -- everyone votes their "Conscience", as Neil Young urged in 2020.
That is voting their conscience for "Freedom" and voting against "Tyranny".
Or, maybe not ... a terrifying realization. Or, even worse -- those who think they are voting for "Freedom" but -- in reality - they're mistakenly actually voting for "Tyranny". Quite a state of affairs, eh?
As usual, Neil Young has quite a bit to say about Presidents and politics.
Many of us were introduced to Mr. Young back in 1970 with the song "Ohio" and the lyrics:
"Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio."
CSNY's "Ohio" single with the United States Bill of Rights
Highlights the right to peacefully assemble
Richard Nixon: "Campaigner"
"I am a lonely visitor
I came too late to cause a stir
Though I campaigned all my life towards that goal
I hardly slept the night you wept
Our secret's safe and still well kept
Where even Richard Nixon has got soul
Even Richard Nixon has got
Soul"
And Mr Young has not slowed down on the subject of Presidential politics since 1970.
Ronald Reagan
In the 1980's, there were the infamous "Reagan interviews" where -- depending on one's perspective -- either Neil Young was a Ronald Reagan supporter, detractor or undetermined.
Young's been in hot water with certain elements of the
press for what's been perceived as his support of Ronald Reagan.
Imagine, Neil Young -- the man who wrote that wonderful antiwar,
anti-Nixon anthem "Ohio," a longterm environmentalist and activist . .
. supporting the most right-wing of presidents.
The neo-Reaganite tag affixed to him during the mid-'80s, Young
insists -- quite vehemently -- was taken out of context, blown out of
proportion. ''The Reagan-supporting era," sighs Young. "I don't think
there is one president that's come down the line that hasn't done
something good somewhere." Young says a "sleazeball journalist"
nailed Reagan and then forced Young to his defense.
"Some people put down all presidents no matter what," says Young,
"like once you get to be president you're a . . . idiot. So if you say
anything good about any of them, they think you're supporting
everything they do."
"We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand"
The lyrics are a direct reference to President George Bush's (#41)
campaign pledge to create a compassionate citizenry volunteering to help
cope with society's ills. The "thousand points of light" symbolize the
American citizen's spirit and a shining example of giving selflessly to
care for one another's neighbor and brother. Along with "a kinder,
gentler hand", Bush believed that each American could contribute to
helping make the United States -- and the world -- a better place to
live and work.
In 2008, the song "Lookin' for a Leader" with lyrics:
"And maybe it's a woman Or a black man after all"
Referencing Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the official music video was prefaced by: "Every
American President has left an impact on his country and the World.
This musical history lesson from Neil Young takes a look at the past,
present and future of US leadership."
In 2017, Neil Young announced his latest new album titled ‘The Visitor’ -- and sharing the 1st preview track of the song “Already Great”. The song “Already Great” is the response to those complaining about
America and the need for it to be "great again".
In October 2024, Neil Young endorsed VP Kamala Harris for President, per a statement on Neil Young Archives. Young wrote: "Cast your vote for a beautiful future for your family."
So. From the "tin soldiers and Nixon" in 1970 to "loving" the current Vice President in 2024, Neil has covered the spectrum -- both as a Canadian and a U.S. citizen.
Regardless of the results of the 5th of November, remember empathy and try to focus on our common humanity rather than our often trivial differences. And remember peace, of course.
Neil replies: "I don't hate Trump. I do hate that he is President."
A passionate, but mainly civil debate has ensued here on TW with our recent posting Neil Young’s Journey Through the Past | The Nation -- which encompassed reflections on the recent Democratic National Convention and the performance of Buffalo Springfield's iconic anthem "For What It's Worth" by Stephen Stills.
"For What It's Worth" by Stephen Stills via 2020 DNC Video
Here is a comment by Sedan Delivery: (please note per Comments Policy, publication does NOT necessarily constitute endorsement, OK?)
I love Neil, but he is gone.
I did not watch the
convention so I can’t comment on it, but the constant assurances that it
was a great success leads me to believe that it was not.
“Biden
obviously thought this through and did a great job.” Does Neil really
think Joe had any part in planning the convention? Vote Dem all you
want, but at least be real with us.
I did however watch the clip
of FWIW. Did anyone here actually enjoy that? It was one of the most
cringeworthy things I’ve ever seen. It was like a bad MadTV skit. The
only good thing was that Stills was involved first hand. Glad it was
good enough for him.
I too appreciate the balanced responses in this post, though I strongly disagree with much of it.
I am happy that everyone agrees that FWIW was a jaw droppingly bad moment. Was that part of the success Neil was talking about?
I
am also glad that no one has disputed my notion that Neil is either a
fool or straight up lying when he says that Biden did a great job
planning the evening. In Joe’s words ‘cmon man!” That sentence didn’t
even need to be written, but was just a chance to artificially shore up
concerns about Biden’s current abilities. This is what I’m talking
about when I say the constant reassurances of the convention’s success
are suspect. An actual example. Don’t just flip my logic and act as
though you are disproving it.
There is no moral high ground in
politics. To me, claiming to have it is a trait of liberals, but I
suppose when you’re on the other side it looks like that’s what the
republicans are doing. Every clip I’ve seen from the convention is
talking about Joe’s heart and his empathy, his kindness, blah blah. In
govt policy those words mean nothing. Every goal they want to achieve
involves forcibly taking people’s income to give to others. Nothing you
do with it after that can be considered moral or empathetic. The big
lie is that we just need to elect “good people.” Power corrupts. The
sooner you accept that, the more sense politics makes. All the original
platitudes about America’s greatness were specifically because of its
minimal federal govt. Not because we had magically moral politicians
that would help fix all aspects of our lives. More freedom is always
the answer.
I’m always fascinated by the obsession that Trump
is destroying democracy. The DNC stole the nomination from Bernie in
2016 and 2020. This year was especially fun with Warren staying in just
long enough to rob him of a couple primary wins, dropping out, and then
still refusing to support him, even though she stole all of his
policies. It’s all coordinated, folks. Is that not subverting
democracy? Would love to hear Neil write a song about that. In fact,
Neil’s current home state is having rolling blackouts and wildfires
because of its failed liberal energy and land management policies. That
would make for a good song as well.
As for the Russia stuff,
feel free to cling to that as long as you wish. Same as with obsession
that Trump is some sort of fascist. He has let states control their
responses to both COVID and the peaceful riots. No situation could
better prepackaged for a dictatorship, but that liberal dream simply has
not come to pass. But people also think he called Nazis fine people,
so anything is possible.
As for Neil, I still consider him to be a
hypocrite until he issues a public apology for asking Trump for an
investment and taking a smiling photo with him. I hope he realizes that
photo is enough to destroy all of his credibility with the woke mob
should the issue ever arise.
Thank you for the comment Sedan Delivery. While there is much we can and will say here, we do suggest that
everyone consider SD's comments in their context and the
replies that follow. This is what we call civil, respectful dialogue
which we strive to engage in here @ TW, Btw - for the record - we're trying to celebrate our differences as rusties and NOT trying to create an echo chamber where everyone agrees on everything. It is these heartfelt dialogues
with our readers that are better than silver & gold to us. (Again, please note per Comments Policy, publication does NOT necessarily constitute endorsement.)
Neil Young became a U.S. citizen earlier this year, immediately registered as a Democrat in order to specifically vote against president Trump. (See CITIZEN NEIL: Neil Young Becomes A U.S. Citizen.)
"He used to come to my shows and he was always welcome.
I met him in a
hallway once after a show. It’s too bad he could never attend one of
them now. The country is no longer safe for him. He did that all by
himself."
Something that most everyone seems to forget today is that Donald Trump has always been a major player in New York
City politics and always solidly in the Democratic camp.
JFK, Jr (D) and Donald Trump
Donald Trump only flipped to become a Republican with his first political campaign for President of the U.S. in 2016.
Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton (D), Bill Clinton (D) & Melania Trump - 2005
Wrapping up, recall the 2005 movie V for Vendetta which was set in an alternative reality where a neo-fascisttotalitarianregime has taken control using a message of protection from terror and disease -- the invisible enemies.
In these scenes, visualize that you are that man in the bar, or the woman on the couch, or the child staring in disbelief at the TeeVee screen. You are them.
As V says:
“Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of
conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the
means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of
truth.”
"There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your
reason and rob you of your common sense. Fear got the best of you, and in your panic you turned to the now high chancellor, Adam Sutler.
He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent. “
One more clip before we go, is Director Oliver Stone at the Writer's Guild Awards ceremony in 2017.
3 minutes of honesty out of milions of minutes of lies Oliver Stone's speech on American hegemony pic.twitter.com/wywVZkZvFO
"First they came for Thrasher's Wheat, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Neil Young fan.
Then they came for Aaron Swartz, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t an opponent of the "privatization of knowledge" by corporations and academia.
Then they came for Oprah Winfrey & Beyonce, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a black female social justice warrior.
Then they came for Neil Young, and I didn’t speak up, because I was Donald Trump voter.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."
MODIFIED ~~ Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945
We first published these original words by Rev. Martin Niemoller here on Thrasher's Wheat on September 27, 2011 -- almost 9 years ago. And we insert the profound words of Rev. Martin Niemoller into our postings from time to time. And it's been 75 years since the quote originated.
So how much longer will this continue all of you communists, jews, trade
unionists, and catholics out there? How's that identity politics thing
working out for you these days?
And just in case anyone is missing the obvious point here, if they can censor and de-platform a rather benign music blog such as Thrasher's Wheat for getting out of line, then we can guarantee that much more serious throttling lies in wait. Be very careful what you wish for.
Young’s on-the-sleeve politics, meanwhile, have always seemed a bit
evasive.
Anti-Nixon protest songs led, in the ‘80s, to wishy-washy
support for some Reaganomic policies (predictably, Young seemed to
double down on this the instant he was called out for it); lifelong
activism around stewarding the environment was undercut by the
post-9/11, pro-war torch song “Let’s Roll.” More recently, in addition
to threatening to take the President to court (embracing the tradition
of eager American litigiousness), he has expressed support for Joe
Biden, and for Black Lives Matter, writing on his website that America needs to “deal with our white insecurities.” He also, even more recently, vowed to uncouple his Archives website from Facebook,
claiming that “the corrupt social platform” was “screwing with our
election.”
Even that one word—“our”—is significant. It suggests that
Young, a newly certified American, self-described “old white guy”
consummate artist of disillusionment, hasn’t succumbed to the cynicism
that US politics seems to encourage.
U.S. Republican Presidents Richard Nixon, George Bush, Sr. (#1), Ronald Reagan
And Neil has weighed in on the DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION SUCCESS | NYA, where his longtime friend and bandmate Stephen Stills lip synced to "For What It's Worth".
>> Pre-Order on Amazon.com << 
Human Highway
Concert Review of the Moment
This Land is My Land
FREEDOM In A New Year
*Thanks Neil!*
![[EFC Blue Ribbon - Free Speech Online]](http://www.thrasherswheat.org/gifs/free-speech.gif)
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young
Pardon My Heart
"We're The Ones 
Thanks for Supporting Thrasher's Wheat!
This blog 
(... he didn't kill himself either...)
#AaronDidntKillHimself
Neil Young's Moon Songs
Civic Duty Is Not Terrorism
Orwell (and Grandpa) Was Right
What's So Funny About 
I love Neil, but he is gone.
I did not watch the convention so I can’t comment on it, but the constant assurances that it was a great success leads me to believe that it was not.
“Biden obviously thought this through and did a great job.” Does Neil really think Joe had any part in planning the convention? Vote Dem all you want, but at least be real with us.
I did however watch the clip of FWIW. Did anyone here actually enjoy that? It was one of the most cringeworthy things I’ve ever seen. It was like a bad MadTV skit. The only good thing was that Stills was involved first hand. Glad it was good enough for him.
I too appreciate the balanced responses in this post, though I strongly disagree with much of it.
I am happy that everyone agrees that FWIW was a jaw droppingly bad moment. Was that part of the success Neil was talking about?
I am also glad that no one has disputed my notion that Neil is either a fool or straight up lying when he says that Biden did a great job planning the evening. In Joe’s words ‘cmon man!” That sentence didn’t even need to be written, but was just a chance to artificially shore up concerns about Biden’s current abilities. This is what I’m talking about when I say the constant reassurances of the convention’s success are suspect. An actual example. Don’t just flip my logic and act as though you are disproving it.
There is no moral high ground in politics. To me, claiming to have it is a trait of liberals, but I suppose when you’re on the other side it looks like that’s what the republicans are doing. Every clip I’ve seen from the convention is talking about Joe’s heart and his empathy, his kindness, blah blah. In govt policy those words mean nothing. Every goal they want to achieve involves forcibly taking people’s income to give to others. Nothing you do with it after that can be considered moral or empathetic. The big lie is that we just need to elect “good people.” Power corrupts. The sooner you accept that, the more sense politics makes. All the original platitudes about America’s greatness were specifically because of its minimal federal govt. Not because we had magically moral politicians that would help fix all aspects of our lives. More freedom is always the answer.
I’m always fascinated by the obsession that Trump is destroying democracy. The DNC stole the nomination from Bernie in 2016 and 2020. This year was especially fun with Warren staying in just long enough to rob him of a couple primary wins, dropping out, and then still refusing to support him, even though she stole all of his policies. It’s all coordinated, folks. Is that not subverting democracy? Would love to hear Neil write a song about that. In fact, Neil’s current home state is having rolling blackouts and wildfires because of its failed liberal energy and land management policies. That would make for a good song as well.
As for the Russia stuff, feel free to cling to that as long as you wish. Same as with obsession that Trump is some sort of fascist. He has let states control their responses to both COVID and the peaceful riots. No situation could better prepackaged for a dictatorship, but that liberal dream simply has not come to pass. But people also think he called Nazis fine people, so anything is possible.
As for Neil, I still consider him to be a hypocrite until he issues a public apology for asking Trump for an investment and taking a smiling photo with him. I hope he realizes that photo is enough to destroy all of his credibility with the woke mob should the issue ever arise.