Music Legend Slams Trump's 'Shocking' Venezuela Actions and Considers Leaving the US

Art Garfunkel, 84, has said he is considering leaving the United States because of his concerns about Donald Trump and his presidency.

The singer made the comments in an interview with The Guardian published on 4 September 2026, while discussing politics, climate change and his views on the country's current direction. Garfunkel said he was troubled by what he described as America's position and said he was thinking about leaving the country.

'I don't like America's position at all,' he said. 'I'm not aboard, and I'm thinking of leaving the country, frankly.'

Why Art Garfunkel Questions Current US Direction

Garfunkel's comments came as he discussed several broader concerns, including global warming and the actions of those in power. He said the planet was getting warmer, water levels were rising, and many people were starving.

He also referred specifically to the US military operation in Venezuela on 3 January 2026. US special operations forces carried out the operation in Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were subsequently taken to the United States. The operation removed Maduro from power and involved strikes in and around the Venezuelan capital.

Donald Trump's Actions In Venezuela Spark Concern

Following the operation, Trump said the United States would temporarily run Venezuela.

'We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,' Trump said at a news conference in Florida.

Trump also said the United States would be strongly involved in Venezuela's oil industry and that American oil companies would help rebuild the country's damaged oil infrastructure. Trump did not identify which US oil companies he expected to participate.

Music Legend Questions 'Shocking' Venezuela Takeover

Garfunkel questioned the implications of the US action in Venezuela during his Guardian interview.

'When Donald Trump took over Venezuela, are those the new rules?' he asked. 'Just take over a country and run it? It's shocking.'

Garfunkel has supported political figures who opposed Trump, including Bernie Sanders, and has previously spoken about his concerns over climate change. His comments about Venezuela were made in the context of those broader concerns about the environment and political power.

Veteran Singer Remains Hopeful About American Future

The singer's political remarks came alongside discussion of his long career in music. Garfunkel has won eight Grammy Awards through his solo and collaborative work and has received a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award. He is best known for his work with Paul Simon in the folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Simon, also 84, and Garfunkel have had a turbulent relationship, including years of estrangement, before reconnecting privately in 2024.

Garfunkel also acknowledged that Trump's presidency will not last indefinitely. While discussing the difficulty of changing the presidency, he said: 'You think: how on earth are we gonna change the presidency? But Trump won't last for ever. So we've got to hope.'

His remarks therefore combined criticism of the US government's current direction with concerns about climate change and a direct reaction to the January operation in Venezuela. While he said he was considering leaving the United States, he also expressed hope that the political situation would eventually change when Trump is no longer president.