The Chicks used their Los Angeles concert Tuesday night to express their political views, unfurling fans that displayed the message "F*** Trump." The band celebrated what they called a "bluenami," or blue tsunami, referring to the Democrats' projected gains in the 2026 midterm elections, which they anticipated would lead to Democrats controlling both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
During the "Taking the Long Way" 20th Anniversary Tour stop at The Dolby Theatre, band member Natalie Maines addressed the crowd, stating, "Hello, Los Angeles. Welcome to our blunami night. So glad we could enjoy this night together. Texas is blue, the Senate is blue, the house is blue. This was gonna be a very different night if that wasn’t the case."
This is not the first time The Chicks, formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, have publicly opposed Donald Trump. In May, Maines posted a strong anti-Trump message on Instagram, calling him a "fugly slut" and expressing concern that "our democracy is disappearing right before our eyes." This sentiment echoed a previous incident in 2003 when Maines criticized President George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, which led to significant backlash, including bans from country music radio stations and death threats.
Maines's recent criticism appears to be linked to a lawsuit filed by Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization against the Treasury and IRS concerning the leak of their tax returns. The settlement included the creation of a $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund." Democrats and ethics experts, including Senator Ron Wyden, have condemned the fund as a "stunning act of corruption" and a "brazen theft and abuse of taxpayer dollars."
The band officially shortened their name from The Dixie Chicks to The Chicks in June 2020, citing the historical connotations of "Dixie" and the influence of the Black Lives Matter movement.