Rock Band Closes Out Coachella Set With Anti-American Propaganda Video Targeting the CIA and U.S. Military

By Donald

Leave it to a group of privileged rock stars to use one of the biggest music stages in the world to push anti-American propaganda.

The Strokes closed out their Coachella Weekend 2 set on Saturday night with a multi-minute video montage that accused the CIA of overthrowing foreign governments, blamed the U.S. for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and ended with footage of American military strikes in Iran and Israeli operations in Gaza. The band played their 2016 track “Oblivius” for the first time in a decade while the massive LED screens behind them did the talking.

This wasn’t some subtle artistic statement. This was a full-blown political attack on the United States, broadcast to tens of thousands of festival-goers and millions watching at home. And the clips are now going viral, racking up millions of views on social media.

The New York Post reported on the immediate backlash:

Coachella stars The Strokes is blasted for shocking political video during performance: 'Holy s-t' https://t.co/ASTjpBuyOw pic.twitter.com/ku2VvyQqDR

— New York Post (@nypost) April 19, 2026

The video montage displayed images of world leaders The Strokes claimed were overthrown by the CIA. The list included Iranian PM Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, Congolese PM Patrice Lumumba in 1961, Chilean President Salvador Allende in 1973, and Bolivian President Juan Jose Torres in 1976.

Then it got worse.

An image of Martin Luther King Jr. appeared on screen with the caption: “US Govt found guilty of his murder in civil trial.” That claim references a 1999 civil case, but a 2000 Department of Justice review found no credible evidence of government involvement. So The Strokes are pushing a debunked conspiracy theory to a massive audience. Wonderful.

The grand finale? Footage of U.S. military strikes in Iran with the caption “Over 30 universities destroyed in Iran,” followed by a building in Gaza being demolished with “Last university standing in Gaza” splashed across the screen.