Jack White’s upcoming Thanksgiving Day halftime performance at the Detroit Lions game may spark fresh tension with Donald Trump, following months of heated remarks the musician has publicly directed at the former president.

White—now 50 and known globally for “Seven Nation Army” along with his reputation as one of rock’s premier guitarists—has repeatedly likened Trump’s political movement to fascism, accusing him of eroding American democracy since returning to the White House last November.

The Detroit-born artist is set to take the stage during the Lions–Packers matchup next week. And with the NFL already drawing Trump’s ire for booking Bad Bunny for the next Super Bowl halftime show, this latest choice is unlikely to sit well with the former president.

In the wake of Trump’s overwhelming election win against Kamala Harris and her fellow Democrats, White took to Instagram with a furious message. Using a Turkish proverb comparing trees voting for an axe, he condemned Americans who supported Trump, claiming voters knowingly backed “a fascist,” and warning that the country will now endure whatever policies Trump pursues—ranging from Project 2025 to deportation plans, a national abortion ban, rollback of LGBTQ rights, support for Vladimir Putin, minimizing climate action, and more.

White added that it was “mind-boggling” that so many people had fallen for Trump’s tactics.

Earlier in August, White also criticized Trump’s decor in the Oval Office, posting a photo of him with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and blasting what he called a garish redesign of a historic space. White described the room as looking like a “pro wrestler’s dressing room” and mocked Trump’s taste before questioning how anyone could trust him with nuclear authority.

Trump’s team responded through spokesperson Steven Cheung, who dismissed White as an irrelevant “washed-up” performer and accused him of not appreciating the prestige of the Oval Office. White quickly fired back with another lengthy statement, once again comparing the MAGA movement to the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany. He said he refused to remain silent in the face of what he believed to be a global threat, writing that Trump was “dismantling democracy” and that no “intelligent person” could defend him.

This week, White returned to social media to shut down fabricated quotes circulating online claiming he banned Trump supporters from attending his concerts. He insisted he never said anything of the sort, clarifying that his shows are open to anyone who wants to enjoy the music. He emphasized that the misinformation was being spread by trolls seeking attention and assured fans that he values everyone who supports his work.

White even sells a $30 “Icky Trump” protest shirt—a play on the White Stripes song “Icky Thump”—through his record label, Third Man Records.

The Thanksgiving performance comes shortly after White’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles. Fellow Detroit native Eminem is serving as executive producer for the halftime show.

Trump recently attended a Lions game in Washington, where Detroit defeated the Commanders 44–22. During the game, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown by mimicking Trump’s well-known YMCA dance.