John Legend takes down Donald Trump: 'He calls people liars because he is a liar'
Musician argues US president's attacks on others are an example of him projecting his own flaws onto others
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John Legend has argued President Donald Trump’s scathing attacks on others are an example of psychological projection and blame shifting.
The singer, who is an outspoken Trump critic, branded the US president an “embarrassment” to America and lambasted his approval rating.
President Trump’s approval rating dropped to 34 per cent over the weekend and FiveThirtyEight, a prestigious political polling site, have just deemed him to be more unpopular than any other president in the history of modern polling at this point in the first time.
“I feel like it’s not super controversial. I think Trump is an embarrassment to the country. And his approval rating is terrible,” the musician told The Guardian.
The musician went on to argue President Trump’s barbed criticisms of others - such as the media and showbusiness – are an example of him projecting his own defects onto others.
He said: “Well, [Trump’s] an entertainer, too, in a New York way - when he is criticising something, he is usually projecting. So, he calls people liars because he is a liar.
“He talks about the entertainment business because he rose through the entertainment business. He talks about people being corrupt, because he is corrupt. He talks about people being violent because he encourages violence. So, he’s usually projecting when he criticises someone.”
Both Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen – who have a combined Twitter following of 17 million - are frequent and vocal critics of the US president via the site.
Speaking to The Independent in spring, Legend argued President Trump would be impeached but said it was not likely to happen until after 2018.
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members)
He said: “I do think he will, yeah. I think he’s already done enough to be impeached. Now it’s just a matter of when Congress has the guts to do it.”
“And it may not happen until after 2018, but it may happen sooner if enough evidence is presented against him. I’m not super optimistic for a Mike Pence presidency either, but at least I think he’s not insane. He doesn’t seem like he’s a psycho.”
Legend said the Trump presidency had given rise to and was triggered by increasing numbers of white heterosexual men feeling as if they are being victimised in the US.
He said: “Donald Trump represents that sense of being ‘put-upon’ and victimhood among the Christian white straight man. And I feel like they have a bit of a backlash against anything that celebrates another type of existence whether it’s women, LGBTQ, people of colour…”
He added: “There are some that feel like any type of inclusion, any interruption of the overall domination of white men, is some kind of front. Which is weird because they’re still doing fine, they’re still winning. We’re just asking to have a seat at the table.”
The singer said similarly divisive power dynamics were at play here in the UK, presumably a reference to the Brexit vote and a growing climate of hate and xenophobia, and in wider Europe.
He said: “You see that reaction in some of these elections in the US and Europe. Hopefully, everyone will calm down and stop operating out of fear and be more accepting of each other’s differences.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments