Dee Snider Says He “Can’t Be Friends” with Donald Trump Anymore
Dee Snider’s relationship with Donald Trump goes back several years, with the Twisted Sister frontman boasting a friendship that started when he appeared on Celebrity Apprentice for three consecutive years starting in 2011. If that seems like an odd pairing, it is: the Long Island native is certainly no conservative, having rebuffed Paul Ryan for blasting “We’re Not Gonna Take It” at a campaign rally in 2012, and always having been a champion of liberal causes and an advocate of free speech.
After initially giving Donald Trump personal permission to do use the song at his campaign rallies in 2015 — citing their friendship and The Donald’s status as an outsider as befitting the song’s message — Twisted Sister (including Dee) later rescinded that invitation. Now, in a new interview with Bolivia’s ATB, Snider explained the full sequence of events, and doubled down on his decision to distance himself from Trump, his views, and his administration’s policies:
“I was on Donald Trump’s ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ for three years. I came to know him and his family socially. But it wasn’t until he ran for president that I discovered his belief system inside, and I disagree with what he believes — I absolutely disagree with what he believes. So it’s very difficult because we were friends before, but now that he speaks his true mind, I can’t be friends.”
Snider elaborated by explaining his opposition to Trump’s strong anti-immigration beliefs:
“The United States is a country of immigrants — everybody there, except Native Americans, everybody is an immigrant,” Snider said. “My family is [a family of] immigrants. We’ve always welcomed immigrants, and we should continue to welcome immigrants. So, a wall? Crazy. To say no to immigration? Crazy. This has made our country strong. All these people from all over the world have made the United States one of the strongest countries in the world. We can’t stop bringing people in now.”
It takes a strong artist to stand up against the current administration — so many won’t, in fear of alienating their fanbase — and an even stronger person to admit they were wrong. Kudos to Dee for doing both.
Dee has found himself back in the metal press of late with a new collaborative project helmed by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed and featuring members of Toxic Holocaust, Light the Torch’s Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage) and Lamb of God’s Mark Morton. You’ll hear more about that as soon as we do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2bDXhtnIzg
[via Blabbermouth]
