Tom Morello Dunked On Trump Supporters For Using RATM’s ‘Killing In The Name’
"Not exactly what we had in mind."
You might remember that back in June, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello found himself in one of the most ridiculous situations of his career.
Conservative idiots on Twitter, who had evidently listened to Rage Against The Machine just for the basslines and not for the anti-fascist rhetoric they burned through all their music, had become outraged over his apparently sudden decision to get political after he’d thrown his support behind Black Lives Matter.
“Music is my sanctuary and the last thing I want to hear is political BS when I’m listening to music,” one fan wrote in anger, to which Morello replied:
Scott!! What music of mine were you a fan of that DIDN’T contain “political BS”? I need to know so I can delete it from the catalog. https://t.co/AMpmjx6540
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) June 9, 2020
The knowledge that Rage Against The Machine — who railed against systemic racism, police brutality, and the US industrial military complex — were ever so slightly political clearly devastated these fans.
It seems, however, that the message hasn’t reached everyone. Over the weekend, footage emerged of Trump supporters in Philadelphia clad in flags and yelling along to ‘Killing In The Name’.
This astonishing moment of irony — one of the song’s primary lyrics is “Some of those that work forces/Are the same that burn crosses”, along with “Those who died are justified/For wearing the badge/They’re the chosen whites” — didn’t seem to register with the crowd, but it did register with Tom Morello.
“Not exactly what we had in mind,” the guitarist tweeted.
Not exactly what we had in mind https://t.co/RydKGCk9RA
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 7, 2020
Morello has previously called Trump an “orange-faced demagogue“, and has frequently written ‘FUCK TRUMP’ on his guitars. In case anyone is in doubt, he’s not a fan.
Twitter, meanwhile, went absolutely bonkers over the footage.
HOW ARE YOU LISTENING TO RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE AND BE A PART OF THE MACHINE?! https://t.co/MFaeaqFWy6
— ☭ 𝖘𝖌𝖙 𝖈𝖔𝖈𝖐 ☭ (@masonisbigsexy) November 7, 2020
When you miss the whole point of Rage Against the Machine https://t.co/1JQdjPM2q5
— Hector (@Hector_Miggins) November 7, 2020
These Trump people are dancing (terribly) to Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” A song about resistance to police brutality, killings, white supremacy, & fascism. “Some of those that work forces. Are the same that burn crosses.” https://t.co/8npc0hTyVD
— Scott Hechinger (@ScottHech) November 7, 2020
Another reminder to right-wing dumbasses to listen to the lyrics of the song you’re using.