John Dolmayan and Serj Tankian couldn't be more different in terms of their political views, but when it comes to their friendship — formed by years of recording together as System of a Down — Tankian has admitted that he still has respect for his bandmate.
Dolmayan has been making headlines over the last year for his repeated praise of Donald Trump and disgraced Mandalorian actress Gina Carano, and his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement and American Democrats, as well as numerous other far-right talking points. Meanwhile, Tankian just released his documentary Truth to Power — about his longstanding activism and his connection to the 2018 Armenian Revolution.
Speaking with Consequence of Sound, Tankian revealed that despite having radically opposing political views, the pair are still "very good friends."
"When it comes to American politics, we happen to be on the polar opposite ends of it, and we're both very passionate and vehement about our views, which is fine," Tankian said.
"I love and respect John very much, but I don't love and respect his American political views. And that's fine," he continued. "And I can live with that and he can live with that because we respect and care for each other. And it's really just that."
Tankian added: "Have we talked about it? Yeah. But do we talk about it often? No, because there comes a point where when you don't see eye to eye on something, you just rather talk about something else."
Previously, Dolmayan had shared a similar stance in regards to Tankian's political views.
"He's really trying to help people, Serj," Dolmayan told the Deviant Gentlemen podcast [via Blabbermouth]. "I believe he's a good person, inherently. But again, it's that moral high ground that they think they're on — that perceived moral high ground. It kind of blinds them to being open about ideas they might be wrong on."
Tankian's documentary is out now via Oscilloscope and Live Nation. Later this month, the frontman will release his Elasticity EP, featuring five songs that were intended for a new System of a Down album that never came to be.
Dolmayan has been making headlines over the last year for his repeated praise of Donald Trump and disgraced Mandalorian actress Gina Carano, and his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement and American Democrats, as well as numerous other far-right talking points. Meanwhile, Tankian just released his documentary Truth to Power — about his longstanding activism and his connection to the 2018 Armenian Revolution.
Speaking with Consequence of Sound, Tankian revealed that despite having radically opposing political views, the pair are still "very good friends."
"When it comes to American politics, we happen to be on the polar opposite ends of it, and we're both very passionate and vehement about our views, which is fine," Tankian said.
"I love and respect John very much, but I don't love and respect his American political views. And that's fine," he continued. "And I can live with that and he can live with that because we respect and care for each other. And it's really just that."
Tankian added: "Have we talked about it? Yeah. But do we talk about it often? No, because there comes a point where when you don't see eye to eye on something, you just rather talk about something else."
Previously, Dolmayan had shared a similar stance in regards to Tankian's political views.
"He's really trying to help people, Serj," Dolmayan told the Deviant Gentlemen podcast [via Blabbermouth]. "I believe he's a good person, inherently. But again, it's that moral high ground that they think they're on — that perceived moral high ground. It kind of blinds them to being open about ideas they might be wrong on."
Tankian's documentary is out now via Oscilloscope and Live Nation. Later this month, the frontman will release his Elasticity EP, featuring five songs that were intended for a new System of a Down album that never came to be.
