The music industry has criticised Donald Trump’s response to US wildfires

US President Donald Trump has become the target of a number of those in the music industry, thanks to an ‘insensitive’ Tweet in response to California’s wildfire crisis.

Over the last few days, the US state of California has been fiercely battling against some of its worst wildfires in recorded history. While the fires have so far seen more than 30 civilians killed, half-a-dozen firefighters have also lost their lives, while property damage is rampant.

News stories coming out of the state have also focused on how a number of musicians (including Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst) have lost their homes and belongings in the fire, while Lady Gaga, along with members of Tool and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been evacuated.

However, there has been growing indignation in regards to a Tweet shared by US President Donald Trump that has since been referred to as “insensitive” by some.

There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 10, 2018

The Tweet itself – which was shared on Saturday night – shows Donald Trump placing the cause of the fires solely on California’s forest management, while completely overlooking effects of climate change, and the devastating drought affecting the state.

Now, a series of outraged musicians have begun sharing their responses to Trump’s Tweet.

While rock drummer Tommy Lee simply responded to the President by asking if he could “be anymore [sic] insensitive”, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose stated that “only a demented n’ truly pathetic individual would twist that around n’ use a tragedy to once again misrepresent facts for attempted public/political gain at other’s expense”.

Likewise, ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach, and pop star Katy Perry have also hit back at Trump, with the latter calling his Tweet “an absolutely heartless response.”

“There aren’t even politics involved,” Perry explained. “Just good American families losing their homes as you tweet, evacuating into shelters.”

Can you be anymore insensitive you fucking moron

— T🥁mmy L33 (@MrTommyLand) November 10, 2018

Um…actually…it’s a lack of federal funding that’s at the “root” of the purported forest mismanagement. Only a demented n’ truly pathetic individual would twist that around n’ use a tragedy to once again misrepresent facts for attempted public/political gain at other’s expense

— Axl Rose (@axlrose) November 11, 2018

God Bless Them All?
You are the most USELESS human being to ever walk the Planet Earth.
Except the useless idiots who actually vote for you 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕 https://t.co/IVuIKmtDUg

— Sebastian Bach™️ (@sebastianbach) November 11, 2018

This is an absolutely heartless response. There aren’t even politics involved. Just good American families losing their homes as you tweet, evacuating into shelters. https://t.co/DJ4PN26bLZ

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) November 10, 2018

Our National Embarrassment can't bring himself to show some empathy to Californians dealing with a horrific disaster. https://t.co/WwLA7UTI8c

— John Legend (@johnlegend) November 10, 2018

https://twitter.com/butchwalker/status/1061287411655806976

9 killed so far; many others missing; and this is what the President tweets. The man is a soulless cretin. An infection. A big, bloated gob of pus. https://t.co/xYJfwxQx6Q

— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) November 10, 2018

However, one of the most in-depth responses to Trump’s Tweet undoubtedly came from music executive Scooter Braun, who wrote a lengthy appeal to the President on Instagram.

“98% of the land that has burned is federally owned,” Braun began. “Mr. President it was under your watch that their budgets were cut. I’m not so left leaning that everything done under your watch I think is bad or unjust… but what I know… what you have shown… is you are unfit to lead.”

“Leaders listen, leaders stand with their people in moments of struggle and darkness. You sir do neither. You are self indulgent, you mock, and you incite. You put down good republicans and democrats alike. You celebrate your achievements and pt fingers in your losses.”

“Your tweet is an embarrassment to you and this nation,” he continued. “Good hardworking people are suffering and you point blame. Be a leader! Leaders give the wins to their people and take on the blame of the losses. That is what real leaders do. People who voted for you are not bad people. In fact the majority are good hardworking men and women who just wanted change. They wanted to be heard. Appreciated with the rest of the nation.”

“Sir you care for no one but yourself and your own achievements,” Scooter Braun continued. “You embarrass them! My family came here because they believed in a place of dreams. A place where all were given a chance for a better life. A place where morality led the day.”

“I have not spoken out against you. I have asked to be listened to. I have asked for myself and my fellow citizens to be heard. I believe in a Democratic system of respect. I have tried to not fight with those I also hope are heard and protected. But sir this… this.. this is absurd. You are the President of the United States. Not the President of your own fan club.”

“I ask that you listen not attack,” he concluded. “Ask if you might have made a mistake…and help. You are certainly in a position to do so. And lastly to all those suffering because of these fires… and those like my brother who are evacuated right now… WE THE PEOPLE are with you. Stay safe and thank you to all the fire fighters out there risking their lives for others. True heroes.”

While Donald Trump has not addressed this criticism directly, our hearts go out to those affected by these devastating wildfires.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.