In the entertainment world, President Donald Trump can do no right, so it’s incredibly rare that an actor or singer has anything remotely positive to say about him. That’s why it came as a welcome surprise when The Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde reacted to Trump honoring conservative radio legend Rush Limbaugh on Monday by saying that her father “would have been delighted” by it.
Trump gave Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his State of the Union address earlier this month after the radio host revealed to the world that he has “advanced lung cancer.” Limbaugh has a connection to The Pretenders, as he uses their song “My City Was Gone” as his theme song.
Fox News reported that Chrissie Hynde, 68, took to Twitter on Monday to pen an open letter to Trump in which she protested calls to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. She began by explaining that she had allowed Limbaugh to continue using her hit song because of her father’s adoration for the conservative host.
Chrissie Hynde Pens Open Letter To Trump
“An open Letter to Donald Trump, President of the United States. Dear Mr. President, I often think of how much my father, Melville “Bud” Hynde, who proudly served his country as a Marine on Guadalcanal, would have enjoyed your Presidency. [p1.]” Hynde wrote in numbered tweets.
“The other day when you gave that award to Rush Limbaugh, my father would have been so delighted,” she wrote to Trump. “He loved listening to Rush, which is why I allowed my song, ‘My City Was Gone’, to be used on his radio show. My father and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye. We argued a lot [p2.] But isn’t that the American way? The right to disagree without having your head chopped off? Soon, I will be participating in a protest in London against the extradition of Julian Assange. I know my father would be mortified, but I feel strongly enough to do [p3.].”
The other day when you gave that award to Rush Limbaugh, my father would have been so delighted. He loved listening to Rush, which is why I allowed my song, ‘My City Was Gone’, to be used on his radio show.
My father and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye. We argued a lot.. [p2.]— Chrissie Hynde (@ChrissieHynde) February 17, 2020
but isn’t that the American way? The right to disagree without having your head chopped off?
Soon, I will be participating in a protest in London against the extradition of #JulianAssange (@wikileaks). I know my father would be mortified, but I feel strongly enough to do [p3.]
— Chrissie Hynde (@ChrissieHynde) February 17, 2020
Hynde Doubles Down
“What I believe is the right thing; to protest further punishment of a man who sought to defend Freedom, albeit in a way you rightly disagree with. I know Mr. Assange broke the law (as i have done defending the treatment of animals) but I believe [p4.] he has been duly punished and should now be set free. Please consider my plea. Yours truly, Chrissie Hynde of @ThePretendersHQ (@MrsC_Assange),” she concluded.
he has been duly punished and should now be set free.
Please consider my plea.Yours truly,
Chrissie Hynde of @ThePretendersHQ
— Chrissie Hynde (@ChrissieHynde) February 17, 2020
Praise For Rocker’s Civility
Though many Twitter users did not agree with what Hynde had to say, The Pretenders frontwoman was praised for having a far more civil tone than most of her peers in the entertainment realm.
“Your approach is civil and respectful. We need more dialogue like that. Both sides could learn from this approach,” one social media user commented, with another calling Hynde a “an honest, self-honest, truly tolerant liberal,” adding, “people such as you are hard to find – you are precious. God bless.”
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Of course, liberals were quick to turn on the rock star for humanizing conservatives in any way.
“I always wondered how he got permission to use your song. It’s ok to love your dad yet not endorse his worldview, Chrissie,” one commenter wrote, with another writing, “Change your password Chrissie, someone’s hacked your twitter account.”
We applaud Hynde for reminding her fellow liberals that it’s alright to love and support people who have different political views from your own. This is a notion that has been forgotten by the so-called “tolerant” left, which is anything but tolerant these days.
And for allowing Rush Limbaugh to use The Pretenders hit as his theme song in her father’s honor.
I can think of a few other vocal celebrities who could take a page of out Chrissie Hynde’s book.
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