Natalie Maines has reignited a long-running political feud with a blunt swipe at Donald Trump. This prompted a personal attack from the White House. The exchange also brings renewed attention to The Chicks’ history of challenging presidents and refusing to stay quiet about politics.
What the White House said about The Chicks singer Natalie Maines
Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, responded to Natalie Maines’ criticism in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. He accused the singer of suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome” and attacked her intelligence, calling her a “despicable nobody” with a “peanut-sized brain.”
The controversy recalls the intense backlash Maines endured in 2003, when she criticized then-President George W. Bush while performing in London. At the time, she expressed opposition to the war and said she was ashamed that the president came from Texas. The comments triggered intense criticism, including demands that the country group’s members stick to music rather than politics.
During a recent Manhattan concert, Maines revisited that episode, saying she would never bow to pressure to “shut up and sing.” She also joked that she would now give Bush a “big wet kiss” before declaring that she was ashamed the president came from the United States.
The Chicks have turned Maines’ latest remark into merchandise, selling T-shirts bearing the line about being ashamed of the president’s American origins. Maines told The New York Times that the band knew its fans would embrace the design. She said it had become the group’s second-best-selling shirt, behind its tour merchandise. Maines also acknowledged that the 2003 controversy remains part of the band’s legacy, saying, “I’m fine with it. Still stand behind it.”
Bandmates Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire discussed how female country performers face reactions to their political views. Strayer pointed to Maren Morris as an artist who has faced ostracism over her positions, while Maguire praised Kacey Musgraves’ irreverent honesty and supportive fan base. “She’s so funny, and she’s always been irreverent in that way and honest in that way,” Maguire said.
