Legendary guitarist Keith Richards has never been known for holding back his opinions, and when the subject turns to Donald Trump, the rock icon’s words have often been blunt and uncompromising.
In one of his most direct remarks about the controversial political figure, Richards dismissed Trump outright, saying he had no concern about the former president’s opinions of him. “I don’t care a whit what Trump thinks about me,” Richards said, before launching into a harsh critique of the businessman-turned-politician. “He’s a complete absolute shambles, a total train wreck. If Congress had any real spine, he’d be tossed onto the scrap heap of history.”
The remark fits a long pattern of criticism from Richards toward Trump that stretches back decades. Their uneasy history actually dates to the late 1980s, when the The Rolling Stones were preparing for a major performance in Atlantic City during the band’s 1989 “Steel Wheels” tour. Trump, who owned the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino at the time, was involved in promoting the event.
According to accounts from concert promoter Michael Cohl, tensions rose when Trump allegedly attempted to use the concert to stage his own press conference despite prior agreements with the band. The situation reportedly angered Richards so much that he slammed a knife into a table in frustration and demanded that Trump be removed from the venue.
Richards later recalled the incident in interviews, describing it as one of the rare times he truly lost his temper. At the time, he reportedly insisted that the promoter “get rid of this man,” referring to Trump, before the band would proceed with the event.
The Rolling Stones’ complicated relationship with Trump continued decades later when the former president used the band’s music at campaign rallies during the 2016 U.S. election. The band publicly objected to the use of their songs, particularly “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” which Trump frequently played at the end of his speeches.
For Richards, the conflict was never simply about music licensing or personal disagreement. His comments over the years have often reflected a broader frustration with the political climate surrounding Trump’s rise.
Despite the controversy that often follows such statements, Richards has always been known for speaking candidly. The guitarist, whose career spans more than six decades with the Rolling Stones, has built a reputation as one of rock’s most outspoken figures — someone who rarely filters his opinions, whether about music, politics, or culture.
And judging by the sharpness of his words about Trump, that reputation remains fully intact.
