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A heavy metal band faced significant criticism after their recent performance at Riot Fest in Chicago, Illinois, where they staged a violent mock-up that involved the bloody disembowelment of U.S. President Donald Trump and the beheading of Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
At the festival on September 20, the band brought two effigies—one representing Elon Musk and another of Donald Trump. During their act, they beheaded the Musk effigy and simulated the murder of Trump amidst cheers from the crowd.
This performance is consistent with the band’s 40-year tradition of theatrical displays of violence targeting political figures from both sides of the aisle. In the past, they have simulated similar acts involving statues of Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.
The performance sparked widespread outrage, with many criticizing the band and accusing them of promoting violence. Comments flooded social media platforms condemning the act, with some asserting that it incited violence and was a troubling display.
One user on X remarked, “This is incitement. They know exactly what they’re doing.” Meanwhile, another defended the band, saying, “They do this with every president; here, they had Joe Biden sniffing a child before dismemberment on stage. They’ve even done it with Kamala.”
Conversely, some users dismissed the controversy, with one commenting, “It’s Gwar. Love you guys, but you’re uncultured for this one.”
A video capturing the event showed performers at Riot Fest mimicking the gruesome act while the audience cheered, highlighting the provocative nature of their display.
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