Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon, also known as Johnny Rotten, is once again making headlines with his blunt opinions, this time targeting Nigel Farage and Donald Trump in a new interview with The Mirror.
Lydon, who has never shied away from sharing his views, compared Farage to “someone you’d meet at a fairground who says, ‘Do you want to buy one of these watches?’” He also recounted an awkward encounter with Trump years ago at the VH1 Music Awards, describing it as “a gorgeous fiasco.” According to Lydon, his late wife, Nora, accidentally stepped on Jennifer Lopez’s dress, causing it to rip and sparking chaos. “Trump was going in with Jennifer Lopez … They went nuts on us. Trump is the Sex Pistols of politics,” he said.
Although Lydon now admits he “did not like” Trump, his stance on the former president has shifted over the years. In 2017, he defended Trump, Brexit, and Farage on Good Morning Britain, saying Trump “terrifies politicians” and could even be a “possible friend.” He later clarified that while he didn’t personally like Trump, he believed Americans should “support him or you will destroy the country.”
Ahead of the 2020 U.S. election, Lydon said he planned to vote for Trump, describing Joe Biden as “incapable.” “Trump’s not a politician. He’s never claimed to be … We’re bored with your intellectual left-wing ideas,” he explained at the time.
More recently, in an interview with NME, Lydon called Trump “one of the most horrible little runts I’ve ever seen,” adding, “I’ll never like him. I’ll vote for him but that’s about it.” His remarks suggest a growing disillusionment with the former president.
Regarding Farage, Lydon’s latest comments indicate he is no longer impressed by the Reform UK leader.
Currently, Lydon is touring the UK with his spoken word show, Untamed, Unscripted & Uncensored, and is set to reunite with Public Image Ltd. for their upcoming This Is Not The Last Tour.
