Credit: YouTube

Julian Casablancas reflects on The Strokes’ political Coachella statement and “white privilege” American Zionism comments

Sat 4 July 2026 10:43, UK

The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas has explained the band’s strong political message at Coachella earlier this year during a talk at the Oxford Union and reflected on his recent controversial Subway Takes appearance.

During their set at weekend two of the Californian festival, the New York band used their platform to take a stand, using the visuals behind them to take a stand against the US regime throughout modern history.

While playing ‘Oblivius’, which they hadn’t previously performed live since 2016, the slideshow behind the band included political figures like Omar Torrijos, Jacobo Árbenz and Jaime Roldós Aguilera, all described as leaders allegedly overthrown by the CIA.

The New Yorkers also included an image of Martin Luther King Jr, along with the statement, “US Govt found guilty of his murder in civil trial,” as well as highlighting the devastation caused to universities in Iran and Gaza.

While speaking at the Oxford Union in late May, which was uploaded to YouTube on July 3rd, Casablancas was asked about this gesture and why they chose to make the statement at Coachella of all places.

“I was really looking for a treat that influencers would really appreciate,” Casablancas began by joking, before sincerely adding, “The video was originally for the song ‘Oblivious’, but I remember my step-dad at the time said, ‘Don’t put this out, they’re gonna come for you’, and I think the world had kinda come around, and we were just talking about doing something.”

Casablancas then described Coachella as a “magnifying glass,” and The Strokes wanted to deliver a message “that’s not just vain and aimless”.

They then decided to do it at the end of the set during the second weekend because they were worried “it might bum people out” and “people might boo”. He added, “It worked out great, I honestly didn’t think people would really care.”

Additionally, during his address to the Oxford Union, Casablancas discussed his recent appearance on Subway Takes, which attracted scrutiny due to him stating, “American Zionists get the benefits of white privileged people, but talk like they are Black people during slavery.”

He told the Oxford Union, “I think the true nerve point really comes down to one thing, and that is expansion. Expansion is the key concept, I think, more than a vague nationalism or love of a country, meaning Israel settlements and greater Israel.”

Casablancas later added, “So what I should have said maybe in the SubwayTakes thing is let’s call it settler-style Zionist expansionists and maybe some good-hearted indoctrinated moderates, when they’re talking in this kind of victim language is weird because they get many of the perks of white privilege in America and stuff.”

The frontman also clarified he “had nine takes at this point and SubwayTakes asked me for the most controversial take I had,” before adding, “I was not talking about my friends who say Israel has a right to exist. Even though to them I would lovingly say all the Arab countries and the world has agreed on set borders for a very long time. It can live in peace, but Israel didn’t want it because they want to expand.”

Watch the full address and interview at the Oxford Union below.