The Strokes close Coachella set with controversial montage on US foreign policy. Fans say ‘Hats off to them’

The Strokes turned heads at Coachella's second weekend when they closed their Saturday night performance with an unexpected political statement that has divided music fans and sparked widespread discussion online.

The montage included Iran's former Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and Congo's independence leader Patrice Lumumba, both of whose removals from power have been connected to US involvement in declassified documents.

The presentation also touched on contemporary issues, showing footage related to a 1999 civil trial verdict concerning Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. More strikingly, the visuals highlighted the destruction of over 30 Iranian universities following airstrikes since late February, and displayed images of Gaza's final functioning university being destroyed during the 2023 conflict that has demolished all 19 university campuses in the territory.

Frontman Julian Casablancas, who has a history of activism including signing a pro-Palestine letter in the past, kept his on-stage commentary relatively brief. He made a joke about the draft before promoting the band's upcoming album scheduled for release in June, allowing the visuals to speak largely for themselves.