Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello clapped back at Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok, which had mischaracterized the band’s political stance.
Tom Morello responds
A screenshot circulating on social media showed Grok stating that some critics view Rage Against the Machine’s activism as “hypocritical”—claiming the band has supported Democratic establishment figures such as Barack Obama and Joe Biden, despite their anti-system message. The summary concluded that the band’s rage “targets only right-leaning authority, not the left’s, flipping their anti-system ethos into support for one side’s control.”
However, when asked directly about the topic, Google Gemini’s AI overview contradicted that notion. It stated: “Members of Rage Against the Machine have been sharply critical of both Barack Obama and Joe Biden, consistent with the band’s anti-establishment politics. There are no examples of any member being supportive of either president.”
Morello, who has long been vocal about social and political issues, shared the screenshot of Grok’s clarification on X (formerly Twitter) with a short, sharp caption: “Hey Grok, suck it.”
Hey Grok, suck it: https://t.co/MueqYxN30g pic.twitter.com/Lra2IlMZW1
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) October 12, 2025
The post quickly gained traction among fans, many applauding Morello’s trademark defiance and sense of humor. Others pointed out the irony of an AI built by Musk’s X platform attempting to define the politics of one of rock’s most outspoken anti-establishment bands.
Rage Against the Machine, formed in 1991, built their legacy on politically charged lyrics and a fierce critique of systemic power, whether corporate, governmental, or media-based. Morello and frontman Zack de la Rocha have repeatedly stated that their message transcends party lines, targeting oppression and inequality wherever they find it.
