Echoing a similar sentiment to Chappell Roan, Strokes and Voidz frontman Julian Casablancas is also in no rush to endorse a presidential candidate. In a new interview with NME, Casablancas referred to the presidential candidates as "both sides of the same corporate coin,' and shared his critiques of both parties.
Casablancas shared, "To be super middle of the road, I would say the vice presidential [running mate] of Kamala Harris, [Tim] Walz, he seems like an honest, decent person. So just for him, suppose I'II be sports-rooting for that team more than the other team, but I think they're both two sides of the same corporate coin." He also added, "Emotionally, a woman of colour and all that sure, let's just get that out of the way and check that box so we can move forward."
Casablancas challenged the two-party system, commenting that neither of the two parties offer what the people actually want because of their "stranglehold on power."
Roan has faced consistent backlash for her original statement and had to post a TikTok clarifying her comments, and that she is, in fact, not voting for Trump. She also noted that "endorsing and voting are completely different." Casablancas and Roan remain steadfast in their conviction of not endorsing a candidate. However, other artists like Taylor Swift, Stevie Nicks and Billie Eilish have come out in support of the Harris-Walz campaign.
Casablancas was a staunch supporter of Bernie Sanders during the 2020 presidential election. The Strokes performed at Sanders's Get Out the Vote concert rally, where the frontman credited Sanders as the only "truly non-corporate candidate." Casablancas shared his desire for a non-corporate candidate in a 2018 interview with Vulture, saying, "Truth and human suffering are not part of the equation of corporate profit."