Ronnie Winter, lead singer of the rock band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, sparked controversy over the weekend after publicly declaring that fans who voted for former President Donald Trump are not welcome at his concerts.
In a video posted to the band’s official Instagram account, Winter addressed his political stance directly:
“If you voted for Donald Trump, do not come to my shows — forever,” he said. “Not just for four years — forever.”
Winter specifically criticized Christian supporters of Trump, stating:
“If you’re Christian and you voted for Donald Trump, shame on you. You are not allowed to come to my shows. I don’t want you there. Don’t come.”
The singer went on to say that his shows promote values that he believes are fundamentally at odds with Trump supporters:
“You’re going to hear a lot of what you’d call propaganda — the actual words of Jesus. You’re going to see acceptance of all people, races, and walks of life. That’s not what you’re about.”
Winter also mentioned the band’s hit 2006 single Face Down, saying,
“It’s awesome that you love ‘Face Down,’ but it’s not your song. It’s not for you.”
The frontman, who described himself as “woke,” addressed past criticism of his political views:
“The thing about being woke is you’re awake, and once you’re awake, you can never go back to sleep,” he said. “Everything the so-called woke people warned about under Trump has happened.”
Winter’s comments come amid a broader trend of musicians speaking out against Trump during his second term. Rock icon Bruce Springsteen has also been vocal during his current world tour, criticizing Trump’s leadership and calling his administration “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.”
Other artists, including Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and singer Neil Young, have also voiced their opposition. Morello said “F— that guy” at a recent music festival, and Young expressed fears online about being targeted during a future U.S. tour.
Despite the backlash, Winter stood by his message, saying refunds are available to anyone offended by his views. “Don’t come. Forever. Goodbye.”
