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Rock legend Elton John shocks interviewer with nice comments about Trump

September 9, 2024 | | Print Article

Music legend Elton John did not take the bait of bashing former President Donald Trump in a recent interview where he thanked him for his support.

The legendary singer/songwriter revealed what he really thought about Trump referring to one of his hit songs in nicknaming North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as “Little Rocket Man,” telling Variety in an interview that he found it “brilliant” and “hilarious.”

His response came after the question was framed to portray the 77-year-old artist as “not a supporter” of the Republican presidential nominee.

But Elton John thanked Trump while also weighing in on the upcoming U.S. elections during the interview at the Toronto Film Festival.

While in office, then-President Trump had called out Kim Jong Un amid a series of threatening weapons tests and, in 2017, insulted him as “little Rocket Man,” making a reference to Elton John’s 1972 hit song “Rocket Man” which also became the title of a biographical film about his life in 2019.

“I know that you’re not a supporter of Donald Trump’s. He loves your music. How did it feel when he took the lyrics to ‘Rocket Man’ and he used it as a nickname for Kim Jong Un…,” Variety’s Ramin Setoodeh asked the singer.

(Video Credit: Variety)

“I laughed, I thought that was brilliant,” John replied with a chuckle. “I just thought, ‘Good on you, Donald.’ … Donald’s always been a fan of mine, and he’s been to my concerts many, many times.”

“So, I mean, I’ve always been friendly toward him, and I thank him for his support. When he did that, I just thought it was hilarious. It made me laugh,” the music icon continued.

According to Variety:

As revealed in Mike Pompeo’s 2022 memoir, “Never Give an Inch,” Trump apparently had to explain to Kim Jong Un what the nickname meant, as the Supreme Leader was not familiar with the “Tiny Dancer” singer. Trump then reportedly autographed an Elton John CD as a gift to Kim.

“Of course, he hasn’t heard of me, Kim Jong Un. I’d be very surprised if he had,” John said, laughing. “I’ve never toured North Korea, and I have no intention of doing so. But, I thought it was a light moment, and it was fun.”

Elton John said people should vote for who they like but that “love” needed to return as he weighed in on the looming November election.

“I don’t go on stage and say to people, ‘You must vote for the Republicans, you must vote for the Democrats.’ It’s none of my business how they vote. They come to see me, and I’m so grateful they have,” he said.

“I just want people to vote for things that are just, things that are important to people: the right to choose, the right to be who you are, and not let anybody else tell you who to be. And that goes all the way up to the Supreme Court,” he continued.

“I just hope that people make the right decision to see what the future is going to be. Is it going to be fire and brimstone … or are we going to have a much calmer, a much safer place? People can vote for who they like, but as far as I’m concerned, I love love. And I’m a loving person, and I want that to come back to America,” he added. “I feel it’s been lost in the last 12 years.”

While social media users loved Elton John’s reaction to Trump, many called out Variety for the way the question about the nickname was framed.

Frieda Powers
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