Rihanna’s 2019 Comments About Trump Resurface After Her Response to Mass Shootings

Rihanna made headlines in 2019 after speaking candidly about President Donald Trump and his response to the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.

In an interview with Vogue published in October 2019, the singer discussed the two shootings, which occurred within roughly 24 hours of one another in August of that year. She criticized the way the violence was discussed publicly and questioned the emphasis placed on mental health rather than other factors.

Rihanna Spoke Out After the El Paso and Dayton Shootings

The El Paso shooting at a Walmart killed 23 people, while nine people were killed in the Dayton shooting.

After Trump described the El Paso attack as an “act of cowardice” and discussed mental illness following the two shootings, Rihanna publicly responded on social media. During her Vogue interview, she explained her concerns about how the incidents were being characterized.

Rihanna said she found it disturbing that people could legally obtain firearms used in deadly attacks and argued that race influenced how some acts of violence were discussed.

Her Strong Words About Trump

During the interview, Rihanna was asked directly about Trump and his response to the shootings.

She made a highly critical statement about the president’s mental-health comments, saying that she believed Trump himself was the person who should be the subject of that description. The remark was part of a broader discussion about race, gun violence and immigration.

Her comments reflected her willingness at the time to discuss political issues publicly, something she had already done through social media.

Rihanna’s Political Views Were Not New

Rihanna had previously used her platform to comment on U.S. politics.

In the same Vogue interview, she discussed her decision not to participate in the Super Bowl halftime show, saying she did not want to participate because of disagreements with the NFL and its treatment of Colin Kaepernick.

She also described herself as an immigrant and spoke about immigration policy and the experiences of minority communities.

A Quote That Continues to Resurface

The 2019 Vogue interview remains notable because Rihanna spoke directly and extensively about politics rather than limiting the conversation to music and fashion.

Her remarks about Trump were made during a specific political moment following the El Paso and Dayton shootings. The comments continue to circulate online, particularly when discussions about celebrities, Trump and political speech resurface.

The viral image currently circulating highlights one of Rihanna’s strongest statements from that interview, but the original Vogue article provides the broader context surrounding what she said and why she said it.