Hayley Williams spoke out against Donald Trump during the iHeartRadio Music Festival.
Paramore played five songs at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena on September 20. During ‘Big Man, Little Dignity,’ Williams criticized the former president, saying, “Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of colour, and the LGBTQ community.”
The singer continued, “It is time for all Americans to band together and to finally defeat the Trump agenda. And the only way to do that is by confronting him at the polls. Do you want to live in a dictatorship? Well, show up and vote.”
At the festival, Williams dressed like Debbie Harry from 1979. The band added part of ‘Heart of Glass’ to their first song, ‘Hard Times.’ They also performed ‘The Only Exception,’ ‘Ain’t It Fun,’ and a cover of ‘Burning Down the House.’
Hayley has been vocal about her dislike for Republicans. She called out Governor Ron DeSantis and anyone who would support him for president. “I’ll be happy to tell you I’m very f*cking comfortable talking politics,” she said at her Atlantic City concert in June 2023. “If you vote for Ron DeSantis, you’re f*cking dead to me. Is that comfortable enough for anyone?”
Earlier this year, Paramore criticized Tennessee lawmakers after they were honored for their Grammy wins, but Republicans denied the same honor for Black musician Allison Russell.
“Paramore will not accept any acknowledgment or honor from the TN House until Allison Russell is given the same recognition,” the band wrote in a statement on Instagram. “For those that don’t know, Allison Russell is an incredibly talented musician and songwriter. Her music spans genres with strong ties to the Folk/Americana scenes,” Williams also noted.
She added, “You might have seen her on the Grammy stage performing with the great Joni Mitchell. Oh, she is also Black. She’s a brilliant Black woman. The blatant racism of our state leadership is embarrassing and cruel. Myself, as well as Paramore, will continue to encourage young people to show up to vote with equality in mind.”
Paramore is currently working on new music. It will be a follow-up to their 2023 album, ‘This Is Why.’