Paramore’s Hayley Williams Speaks Out Against Donald Trump and Project 2025 at iHeartRadio Music Festival: ‘Do You Want to Live in a Dictatorship?’

Steven J. Horowitz

21 September 2024 at 1:48 pm·2-min read

Paramore’s Hayley Williams spoke out against Donald Trump and Project 2025 during the band’s performance last night at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, encouraging attendees to use their vote to make their voices heard.

Williams made her feelings known while the group was performing “Big Man, Little Integrity.” “Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community,” said Williams. “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!”

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The Paramore singer has previously been vocal about her feelings towards Republicans, slamming Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and lambasting anyone who would consider voting for him if he were to secure the presidential nomination. “I’ll be happy to tell you I’m very fucking comfortable talking politics,” she said during an Atlantic City performance in June 2023. “If you vote for Ron DeSantis, you’re fucking dead to me. Is that comfortable enough for anyone?”

Earlier this year, Paramore blasted Tennessee lawmakers after a resolution was passed to honor their Grammy wins but an identical resolution for Allison Russell, a Black musician, was denied by Republicans. “Paramore will not accept any acknowledgment or honor from the TN House until Allison Russell is given the same recognition,” wrote the band in an Instagram story. Later, Williams provided a statement to the Tennessean doubling down on her stance. “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.”

Hayley Williams of Paramore:

"Project 2025 is Donald Trump's playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color & the LGBTQ+ community… Do you want to live in a dictatorship? Well show up and vote!"pic.twitter.com/kBIN01kfov
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) September 21, 2024

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