Streisand tackles Trump on new album
Never one to shy away from the political, Barbra Streisand has a potent message for U.S. President Donald Trumpin a new song from her upcoming album: “Don’t Lie to Me.”
“I just can’t stand what’s going on,” the music legend told The Associated Press in an interview. “His assault on our democracy, our institutions, our founders — I think we’re in a fight. We’re in a war for the soul of America.”
Released Thursday morning, “Don’t Lie to Me” is the first preview of Streisand’s next album, Walls, and its lyrics directly address Trump: “Why can’t you just tell me the truth?” and “How can you win if we all lose?” Even though those words could just as easily be found in a lovelorn torch song, Streisand assured Vogue that her new song is indeed about Trump.
The Funny Girl actress has been outspoken about her distaste for Trump for years.
During the run-up to the 2016 election, Streisand performed a parody version of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns,” recast to mock Trump, at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser.
In January 2017, she penned an essay for Huffington Post titled “Clueless, Reckless, Graceless, Mindless and Heartless: Our President-Elect.” Shocker: It was not complimentary.
In her music, however, Streisand, 76, was initially attempting to be a little more subtle with her criticisms of the president. She was unsuccessful. “I just went ballistic,” she admitted to AP.
Streisand’s album Walls will be released Nov. 2.