Brandi Carlile Delivers Blunt Message to Trump Supporters After Minneapolis Performance
Fresh from her pre-game performance at Super Bowl LX earlier this month, acclaimed musician Brandi Carlile has issued a direct and provocative message to individuals who voted for former President Donald Trump. Speaking backstage after her Saturday concert at the Target Center in Minneapolis, which supported Minnesota's The Advocates for Human Rights—an organization aiding families impacted by ICE arrests—Carlile declared to Rolling Stone that Trump supporters have fallen victim to a scam.
'You Got Fucking Scammed,' Carlile States
"You got fucking scammed. We're living in a scammy time," Carlile told the publication immediately following her performance. "That's what people do. You can't even pick up your phone without getting scammed. Doesn't mean you have to double down." The singer-songwriter elaborated by sharing a personal anecdote about being deceived into buying an expensive vacuum cleaner from a door-to-door salesman during a financially difficult period in her life, noting he made her feel "important."
Drawing a parallel to political disillusionment, Carlile emphasized, "It doesn't mean you have to pay for the fucking vacuum cleaner. And I just think there are a whole lot of people out there right now feeling duped and feeling ashamed and embarrassed. What they need to feel is angry. They need to get mad and change their minds." She urged people to move past the shame of being "duped by a con artist" and instead channel their frustration into reconsidering their views.
Criticism of Trump Administration's Immigration Policies
Carlile's remarks extend her longstanding criticism of the Trump administration. In 2019, she withdrew from the Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit upon learning that former White House staffer Kirstjen Nielsen would attend. In her recent interview, she accused the administration of focusing on "violent theater and dominance over other people" rather than legal immigration. "I don't believe most people signed up for that. Even people who voted for Trump, who I'm angry with, I don't think they voted for this, and I do think that they can still change their minds," she added.
Background: Minneapolis Immigration Enforcement Surge
Carlile's comments come as Minnesota has become a focal point of political turmoil in recent months. Earlier this year, the Trump administration initiated a significant immigration enforcement operation in the area, deploying thousands of federal agents. This controversial move resulted in widespread chaotic arrests, protests, and multiple fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by federal agents.
Last week, White House border czar Tom Homan announced that the ICE surge in Minneapolis is "over" and that agents would be drawn down. However, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey contested this claim, stating in a Thursday interview, "It certainly hasn't stopped. I fully understand why people are very much on edge." This ongoing tension underscores the context of Carlile's advocacy and her call for political reevaluation among voters.
