Trent Reznor: ‘The president of the United States is a complete f–king moron’

Trent Reznor

The Village Voice and NY Magazine’s Vulture just did lengthy interviews with Trent Reznor. He’s currently promoting the latest Nine Inch Nails EP, Add Violence, which is apparently the first in a trilogy of new projects/albums/somethings. Trent is 52 years old and he’s seen a lot. He’s very wise, actually. I covered an interview with Trent last year, in the heat of the election, when he was supposed to be talking about music but he ended up giving some very astute assessments of what was happening in politics at that time. Anyway, here are some of the best quotes from both interviews:

He has four children under the age of seven. “I figured if we’re going to do it, let’s go! They’re these cool little minds that are filled with an optimism and a joy.”

Winning an Oscar: “Surreal. It’s a nice little statue to have that I keep hidden because I feel like an a–hole.”

Getting sober, moving to LA: “Coming out of that hole with a new reset and a more humble approach toward my life, getting married, having a family, has provided a lot of sense of stability and home. Like, now I fit in someplace: my house.”

Social media & Drake: “I don’t pay much attention, but I see what Drake’s been able to pull off in terms of being omnipresent and constantly engaging an audience that seems to enjoy the way he’s engaging them. I’m just not part of that audience. I’m not as well-rounded as I used to be about pop culture. I’m not saying pop music isn’t well-crafted or the people who make it aren’t wonderful, but it’s not for me. I’ve asked people, “What is it that’s good about Drake?” I’ve said to my friends at Apple: “Explain to me why.” As the old guy, I don’t see it.

He’s not a coastal elite, but he hates Trump: “Clearly I find it…disheartening… When you’re not in an urban environment, you often feel left out of the conversation, and I get that. I grew up in that.” For that reason, Reznor says, he has taken extra care when talking to his kids about Trump. “Donald Trump is a bad guy, isn’t he?” Reznor recalls his six-year-old asking recently, after busting Dad indulging in what Reznor admits is a full-blown cable news addiction. Reznor responded carefully. “Look, I don’t think he’s a good guy. Some people do,” he told his son. “I don’t think he believes in science and I don’t think he believes people should be treated decently and I don’t think he tells the truth. That’s why I don’t like him.”

How he really feels about Trump: “It’s tough, because the president of the United States is a complete f–king moron. That’s what gets me the most — that he’s this vulgar, grotesque dope, everything I hate in people.”

But you don’t have to be a Democrat to listen to NIN: “I hate that walled-garden effect, where you’re preaching to your safe audience. I like the idea of trying to reach people who aren’t following me on Twitter.”

Politics as a father: “Well, the weird thing now is looking at politics as a father. My kids walk in the room and I’ve got CNN or MSNBC on and I have to hit the mute button because I don’t want to get into a discussion about how embarrassing the president is. He’s a f–king vulgarian. Aside from whatever ideological beliefs he has — if he has any — he’s a grotesque person who represents everything I hate. I’m repulsed by everything about him and he’s the president, you know? I haven’t figured out how to rationalize that to my kids’ beautiful little optimistic minds. I grew up in a shitty little town full of Trump voters, so I think I can I understand the point of view of someone who supports his message. What I don’t understand is supporting that messenger.

[From Vulture and The Village Voice]

The Vulture interview goes on and on at length, and a lot of it is about the business of music, the music industry in general and the newer paradigms of making money or creating art. He fully acknowledges that he comes across as a get-off-my-lawn old fart, and yet… it’s funny, and he’s really insightful about so much. He’s not holed off somewhere, making music in an echo chamber. He’s paying attention to other artists and trying to figure out if he still has stuff to say musically and culturally. As for what he says about Trump… bless him.

Rock im Park 2014

Photos courtesy of WENN.

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33 Responses to “Trent Reznor: ‘The president of the United States is a complete f–king moron’”

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  1. No Dignity in that says:

    Calling Trump a moron doesn’t help. It merely belittles him.

    • NeoCleo says:

      But it IS the truth.

    • Jerusha says:

      And Moron-in-Chief hates being belittled. So, good. Plus, he is a little, little man, despite his massive bulk. I’d say drive him crazy with it, but he’s already crazy.

    • cr says:

      Calling like it is. At this point taking the high road and not calling him what he is isn’t helping either.
      And as a Reznor fan for a very long time, and knowing that he’s been through rehab more than once, glad to see him make it past 50 and be married with kids. H

    • Radley says:

      And it’s a well earned belittling. I don’t believe he should be handled with kid gloves. How much respect can you afford someone who is so totally and utterly disrespectful??

      Taking the high road all the time actually empowers his ugly behavior. You gotta fight fire with fire. That’s clearly all that low information tangerine hellbeast of a bully in the White House understands.

      • jammypants says:

        Agreed. Trash doesn’t know class. Sadly fighting these overgrown children, we have to drop to their level.

      • Pumpkin (formally soup, pie) says:

        Spot on. That’s the language he understands.

  2. NeoCleo says:

    Wow! He looks GREAT! I thought I was still holding onto it at 50 but Reznor must have some special elixir secreted away. I’ve always liked his mind and he comes off well here.

    • Kaiser says:

      Yes, as I was editing these photos, I was like “Yes, I would still hit it.” He’s still crazy-bangable.

    • Mandymc says:

      Well hellooooooo, Trent Reznor! Can’t believe he’s 52. He look fantastic! I saw him in concert shortly after he cut his hair and got buff and ever since I’ve had such a crush on him. And we are in agreement with our views about the idiot living in the WH.

  3. i dont know her says:

    side note: damn he’s hot now with a little bulk.

    • Dr Snark says:

      for real.

    • Emily says:

      I totally disagree. I thought he looked so much better when he was punk rock star skinny. And now he’s married with kids. It takes the wind out of the sails.

      • Bettyrose says:

        Both are true. Young Trent appeals to my nostalgia, but it’s nice to see a 52 year old still rockin it without trying to look 25.

      • Olive says:

        yeah, I’m not liking bulky Trent either. In that photo of him singing he looks like he smells like BO – gross.

  4. Asiyah says:

    “Aside from whatever ideological beliefs he has — if he has any — he’s a grotesque person who represents everything I hate.”

    Exactly how I feel, especially the “if he has any.” Because I don’t think he does. This isn’t me defending him or saying he’s faking it to get votes. I truly believe Trump has no convictions or beliefs outside of himself. Thought that way before he was even in politics. And he represents everything I hate.

    • Wilma says:

      Grotesque is a perfect word for Trump. Everything about him repulses me.

    • Radley says:

      I agree. I think his sociopathy and narcissism doesn’t allow for him to feel for anyone or truly care about anything. His loyalty is to himself. Not even Ivanka can cross the line which is why that plastic fraud is being so quiet.

      Trump honest to God seems like the kind of guy who could murder someone and then sleep like a baby. He’s a broken, warped, disturbed and dangerous man.

      • Asiyah says:

        That’s the real problem, I think. Like if those were his real beliefs it’s easier to combat because of that whole enemy you know mentality. But how can you fight a person with no real beliefs? Can we really defeat sociopathy and narcissism? Real question because I’ve been wondering this for a long time, even before Trump, but now the question has become too real because of who is in power.

    • GingerCrunch says:

      That quote has crystallized and reduced it very simply to EXACTLY how I feel! LOVE this man and his music. Thanks, Universe!

    • Jayna says:

      So true.

  5. Olive says:

    “I’ve asked people, “What is it that’s good about Drake?” I’ve said to my friends at Apple: “Explain to me why.””

    What even is this mindset so common among men his age? “I don’t understand and I refuse to accept that I just do not understand. Waste your time explaining it to me, 101 style! Do the work for me!!”

  6. Karmacoma says:

    52?!

    Jesus. I would bang that into next week.

    Love me some NIN. Might have to seek out the fragile now. My.

    • Pumpkin (formally soup, pie) says:

      At 52 he’s just earned the #1 spot on my imaginary boyfriend with husband potential list.

  7. Pumpkin (formally soup, pie) says:

    A f**king moron as POTUS, now that news on NK launch of a ballistic missile just broke. Apparently they have the capacity to hit Alaska or California. Hawai’i recently made tests on their nuclear alerts/alarms or something like that in case of a attack for the first time in a long time, don’t remember how long, 40y maybe.
    Drumpf must be sh1tting his pants right now. Making manic rounds and shouting in the OO.
    I wish I was a drunk fly on the WH and OO walls!

  8. Anon says:

    Actually he is spot on. I bloody hate Trump and his family and i also don’t get the fuss being made about Drake.

  9. Mo says:

    What a coincidence that yesterday I stumbled across the new NIN album “Add Violence”. I’ve been feeling really angsty due to the political environment and felt like seeing what Trent Reznor has been up to these days. It’s kind of a slow quiet album which felt perfect for the moment a la Pigs. I love Trent Reznor. He has always been politically vocal, especially in his music. He’s my woke bae, always been sexy too.

  10. aenflex says:

    NIN forever. Huge fan of him and the music.

  11. lizzie says:

    He’s hotter and more intelligent than ever. I’m a big fan but can admit he can be a major asshole. But he now seems settled and content and humble in a way that suits him. I saw NIN in concert a few years ago (hesitation marks tour) and they sounded incredible and the show was a visual feast. It was so intense and the music is aging as well as he is. he is 100% correct about trump but i really loved what he said about his life now. “like, now i fit in someplace: my house” i really really identify with that and i’m glad he feels that way!

  12. pinetree13 says:

    Honking for more Trent stories

  13. Julia says:

    He IS a moron. And arrogant. And vicious. Horrible combination.