Kiss will receive the Kennedy Center tribute at a ceremony presented by Trump, but the band’s co -founders have had mixed reactions to the politician
The co -founders of Kiss, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley – that will be among this year’s honoreades at the Kennedy Center after the populist reformulation promoted by Donald Trump “They haven’t talked much about the president during their second term.” But before that, they manifested themselves more emphatically about Trumpwith opinions of Simmons – who participated in the program Celebrity Apprenticepresented by Trump In 2008 – changing remarkably over time. (The former guitarist Ace Frehleyin turn, he declared to be a supporter of Trump in 2020.) Next, what Simmons and Stanley They said over the years about Trumpwhich will be the host of the event.
Gene Simmons
March 2016: Simmons provides for the victory of Trump In an interview with Rolling Stonealthough without declaring support. “He is the real political animal I have ever seen on stage,” he says Simmons. “He has no speech writers, without editing, nothing. He was recorded talking ‘motherfucker‘. You can’t look away… He said very vile and cruel things. But make no mistake. He talks about improvisation, and what you see is what you have. And he will insist. If you ask him about building a wall [entre os EUA e o México]he will say, ‘Fuck, I’ll do three meters louder, just because you asked.’ He is not there to be his friend… He is good for the political system. ”
July 2016: Simmons flame Trump of “a legitimate and whole guy” and “straight to the point” in the CNNrecognizing that he had been “little gentleman” and that he was “better and smarter” than some of his worst comments indicated.
September 2017: After Kiss refuse the invitation to play in possession of Trump, Simmons Say the Daily Beast: “In this polarized age, it is not a good idea.”
September 2017: “Like it or not, he is the duly elected president, and I think it is necessary to respect the presidency,” he says Simmons the Rolling Stone. When asked you think that Trump It’s doing a good job, replies, “Not yet.”
May 2018: Simmons defends some policies of Trumpincluding the change of US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and the plans to build a wall on the border. “The Vatican has a large wall around him for the same reason,” he says to CNBC. “They want to know who is entering there.”
July 2019: “Politics has changed forever,” says Simmons to the Good Morning Britain. “Like it or not, this president has changed it.” He describes Trump like “a New York Street Cup” and states that “Earth has never been in a better situation… Unemployment in the United States is at the lowest level in 50 years.”
January 2021: Simmons rebutting the allegations of electoral fraud of Trump on Twitter, posting: “60 courts in several states and 60 judges (including judges appointed by the president Trump) Unanimously, and without exception, rejected all allegations of fraudulent election… and this includes the US Attorney General appointed by Trump, Bill Barr!!! ”
August 2021: Simmons Say the Yahoo which strongly supports covid-19 vaccines and that precautions such as the use of masks “should be law.” He suggests that the government Trump It has part of the guilt for the pandemic. “The gentleman who was in office, the former president, I knew before the political world. It’s the same person I knew before; the stripes of a tiger don’t change. And the unfortunate is that, we see, we all lie to some extent, but what happened in the last four years has been beyond everything I could imagine for people with so much power-not just him, but the government, all… all these guys Qanon. ”
May 2022: “Look what that man [Trump] did with this country and polarization – made all cockroaches rise to the surface, ”says Simmons the Spin. “In the past, people were ashamed to be publicly racist and spread conspiracy theories. Now everything is clear because he has allowed it … I don’t think he is a republican or democrat. He just thinks of himself, anyway he can. And in the last election more than 70 million people have believed in blindly.”
November 2022: When Bill Maher comments that Trump does not understand how the US government works, Simmons He replies: “I agree. The person I saw coming to power for the first time is not the same one or two years after that … but I changed, just as many people have changed.”
Paul Stanley
August 2020: “Regardless of who you support, it is incendiary and abominable that any candidate says ‘if I lose, the election was fraudulent’”, tweeted Stanley. “It is an insult to those who have fought for the free and safe elections that we have and dangerously implies that citizens who do not share their opinions are enemies.”
September 2020: Responding to the attacks of Trump on Twitter against various targets, Stanley He wrote: “Poor … Is that what a president should be doing in the morning? Is that presidential? Isn’t it an opinion of mine. I’m asking you!”
January 2021: Stanley condemns the connection of Trump For the Secretary of State of Georgia, Brad Raffenspergerasking him to “find 11,780 votes”: “This is abominable. A real danger to our democracy. The point is not that it is not going to work. It is behavior of head of the mafia and politicians by placing the party above audits, investigations, judicial decisions and the country, in an attempt to nullify the will of American voters.”
January 2021: Stanley It publishes an unequivocal response to the attack of January 6 to the capitol: “These are terrorists. This is an armed insurrection. The flames have been stressed today and over time by the president and specific senators who now cannot distance themselves or denounce what they have caused directly. They know their names. This is the result of their lies.”
November 2024: Stanley adopts a conciliatory tone after the second presidential victory of Trump. “If your candidate has lost, it’s time to learn from it, accept and try to understand why,” he posted on X. “There will be no bridges with those you do not agree with, being condescending, insulting, talking to them or walking away. If your candidate has won, it’s time to understand that those who do not share their opinions also believe they are right and love this country as well as you.”
+++ Read more: Paul Stanley opens the Kiss frustrating tour game in 2000
+++ Read more: Trump hides portraits of Obama and Bush in a little used ladder of the White House
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
