Following Donald Trump’s re-election over Democrat and current Vice President Kamala Harris, electronic music artists across the world have voiced their concerns on social media. Trump’s return to office brings with it promises to enforce mass deportations, limit protections for transgender youth, dismantle the Department of Education, and withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accords.
Massive Attack’s Daddy G took to Instagram, calling November 6th “a very sad day for the world.” Expressing his disappointment, he echoed the sentiments of many artists who feel the election’s outcome poses a threat to progress on social and environmental fronts. Dreamcastmoe highlighted “several factors that critics argue reveal how the U.S. voting system can leave marginalized communities underrepresented and exposed,” such as gerrymandering, felony disenfranchisement, and voter ID laws.
Detroit-based trio HiTech encouraged people to stay hopeful, saying, “Let’s dance the pain away, America, and let’s come up with a plan like damn.” In the midst of disillusionment, HiTech’s message reminded fans to keep moving, both on the dancefloor and in their commitment to change.
In her own IG Stories, JYOTY emphasized the importance of grassroots action, commenting, “Real liberation doesn’t come from traditional party politics. True liberation comes from community and grassroots.” Her words were a powerful reminder that, regardless of the political climate, meaningful change begins at the community level.
DJ Kim Anh shared similar thoughts on the importance of community care. “We have always turned to one another, our own, our communities to protect and hold one another up,” she wrote. “And it is only from the community level that we can make real change. Sending love to everyone hurting and filled with fear and disappointment.”
The election results also mobilized labor organizations such as the United Musicians & Allied Workers (UMAW), who doubled down on their dedication to “equity, fair pay, and dignity.” In an Instagram post, they stated, “We woke up today mourning the suffering we know will come, and disheartened by the knowledge that our work has gotten harder. But now is the time for us to come together, stand up for ourselves, and build strong communities. Organizing and solidarity was the answer a week ago and is still the answer today.”
To read more celebrity reactions to the election, click here.