Billy Joel Condemns Trump Charlottesville Remarks in HBO Documentary

In the second part of his HBO documentary, Billy Joel strongly criticized President Donald Trump's 2017 remarks following the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Trump said there were 'very fine people on both sides.' Joel, who usually avoids political statements onstage, expressed anger over Trump's comments that seemed to equate white nationalists with their opponents, particularly condemning the Nazis and white supremacists who marched with antisemitic slogans. As a silent protest, Joel wore a yellow Star of David on his jacket at a Madison Square Garden concert, stating it was his way of showing defiance and affirming his Jewish identity. He emphasized that the rally's hateful chants like 'Jews will not replace us' were intolerable, reflecting on his family's history escaping Nazi Germany and fighting against such ideologies. Joel noted he did not want to deliver a political speech but felt compelled to act symbolically through the star's display. His protest also received public support, including from his ex-wife, Christie Brinkley.