• Sanders introduced Clairo’s performance
  • He praised the artist’s political activism
  • Fans across social media were surprised and delighted
Image: Imago

Bernie Sanders made a surprise appearance at Coachella this weekend to introduce Clairo’s performance.

The senator and two-time presidential candidate made a speech praising Clairo’s political activism relating to women’s rights and the war in Gaza.

Initially, Sanders was introduced by Florida’s Congressman Maxwell Frost stepped on stage to introduce Sanders. When his time came to speak, Sanders acknowledged that the US was facing “some very difficult challenges, and the future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation”.

“You can turn away, and you can ignore what goes on, but if you do that, you do it at your own peril,” he continued. “We need you to stand up, to fight for justice. To fight for economic justice, social justice, and racial justice.”

“I want to thank Clairo not only for being in a great band but for the great work she’s doing”

A mention of Trump earned a loud chorus of boos from the crowd. “I agree,” Sanders said of their reaction. “He thinks that climate change is a hoax. He is dangerously wrong, and you and I are going to have to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and tell them to stop destroying this planet.

Read more: Bernie Sanders’ brutally honest post-election statement is going viral

“I’m here to introduce Clairo, not just because they are a great band, not just because Clairo at the age of 13 posted videos on the internet as a singer-songwriter,” he explained.

“I’m here because Clairo has used her prominence to fight for women’s rights, to try to end the terrible, brutal war in Gaza where thousands of women and children are being killed. So I want to thank Clairo not only for being in a great band but for the great work she’s doing.”

“bernie sanders, my fav coachella headliner”

Although Coachella is hardly the most obvious place for Sanders to be seen, his supporters loved the unexpected moment.

“bernie sanders, my fav coachella headliner,” one fan wrote on X.

“bernie sanders bringing up gaza & encouraging people to support them during coachella is insane!! especially considering the censorship they had last year… ik that’s MY president,” wrote another.

A third person said: “Clairo and Bernie Sanders at Coachella is a sentence I never thought I’d say out loud but here we are.”

Who else is playing Coachella?

Coachella’s first weekend is taking place right now, with Lady Gaga headlining the Friday and Green Day the Saturday. Post Malone will bring each weekend to a close on the Sundays.

Read more: Coachella announces lineup for 2025 festival

Back in October it was reported that both Rihanna and Kendrick Lamar had declined offers to headline Coachella. Organisers had reportedly been searching for headliners since this year’s festival closed, with the last two year’s failing to sell out, furthering the hardships the Indio festival has been going through since shutting down during the Covid-19 pandemic.

author avatar
Emma Wilkes
Hey its emmawilkes.
See Full Bio
social network icon social network icon