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Rihanna is weighing in on a political debate surrounding President Donald Trump’s second term, arguing that responsibility extends beyond people who voted for him.
The singer responded Tuesday, October 27, to remarks made by journalist Joy Reid during an appearance on Charles M. Blow’s Forward podcast. Reid suggested that Trump’s return to the White House reflected the desires of a large portion of the country.
“I think America has gotten its just desserts,” Reid said. “I think Trump, in a very real sense, is what we deserve. I think that this was America’s heart’s desire. And sometimes the greatest curse is that you get your heart’s desire.” The comments were later shared by us, prompting debate among social media users. One commenter agreed with Reid and wrote that Trump’s second presidency was exactly what his supporters wanted.
“She’s speaking facts!! This is exactly what ‘they’ wanted. Those who voted for him did this. It’s disgusting,” the user wrote. Rihanna, who has frequently voiced opposition to Trump, responded by broadening the criticism beyond voters who supported him directly. “And believe it or not, those who didn’t vote at all also did this!” Rihanna wrote.
Her comment suggested that people who stayed home or declined to participate in the election also helped shape the outcome. The response quickly drew attention because of Rihanna’s large following and her history of publicly criticizing Trump and his political supporters.
The Grammy-winning singer has been outspoken about her political views for years. In 2020, she shared a photograph of herself standing near graffiti that included an anti-Trump message and used a hashtag counting down to Election Day.
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After Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president in January 2021, Rihanna posted an image of herself appearing to take out the trash. She wore a shirt that read, “End racism by any means necessary,” which many interpreted as a symbolic reference to the change in presidential administrations.
Trump has also criticized Rihanna publicly. Following her performance during the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023, he called the performance an “epic fail” and claimed it was the worst halftime show in history.
“This [is] after insulting far more than half of our nation, which is already in serious DECLINE, with her foul and insulting language,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.
Rihanna’s latest comments come as celebrities and political commentators continue debating how much responsibility voters, nonvoters, political parties, and institutions share for the country’s political direction.
By emphasizing the role of people who did not vote, Rihanna argued that political disengagement can have consequences just as significant as casting a ballot. Her response added another layer to the debate over Trump’s support and the reasons behind his return to the White House.