Jack White has never been shy about voicing his political opinions, and at a recent concert, he turned his musical platform into a direct criticism of two prominent figures: former President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
During his performance at Roadrunner in Boston last month, White, the former frontman of the White Stripes, took aim at Trump and Musk by revising the opening lyric of his song “Corporation,” a track from his 2018 album Boarding House Reach. Traditionally, the song opens with the lines: “I’m thinking about starting a corporation. Who’s with me?” However, White chose to tweak the lyrics for his Boston audience, singing instead: “I was thinking about becoming an oligarch, who’s with me?”
The change didn’t end there. White continued, throwing further shade at both figures: “I was thinking about taking government subsidies and starting my own electric car company. Who’s with me? I’m thinking about not being elected. Never holding a public office. Never serving one day of military service. But somehow having the authority to control parts of the US Government. Who’s with me?”
These altered lyrics are a pointed reference to Elon Musk’s controversial transition from billionaire businessman to political influencer under Trump’s presidency. Musk, who owns Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), has grown increasingly involved in political affairs. Since the start of Trump’s second term, Musk has become one of Trump’s senior advisors and was even appointed to head the new Department of Government Efficiency, a move that has sparked significant controversy.
White’s critique of Trump is not new. The musician has long been vocal about his disdain for the former president, and his views have been well documented over the years. Back in 2016, during Trump’s first campaign for president, White and his band, the White Stripes, sold t-shirts with the phrase “Icky Trump,” a play on words derived from their song “Icky Thump.” White has also used social media to express his frustrations with Trump, calling him a “known, obvious fascist” and a “wannabe dictator” following the 2024 election results.
The musician’s tension with Trump extended beyond words—White even filed a lawsuit against the former president over his unauthorized use of the White Stripes’ hit song “Seven Nation Army.”
White’s decision to bring these political themes into his live performances isn’t just about making a statement—it’s a part of his ongoing commentary on power, politics, and the state of American society. As the No Name world tour continues, it’s clear that White is using his platform to engage with the political landscape in a way that feels authentic to his art and activism.
The No Name tour, which kicked off on December 1 in Hong Kong, will continue through May 2025, making stops across Australia, Canada, the US, the UK, and Japan. Whether through lyrics, interviews, or social media, Jack White’s message remains clear: he is committed to speaking out against what he sees as an increasingly dangerous and oligarchic political landscape, led by figures like Trump and Musk.
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