Gene Simmons appeared Sunday on CNN, where the KISS founder compared Trump to Jesus, touched on the divisiveness of American politics, and pushed the American Music Fairness Act that he’s supporting.
During his conversation with Inside Politics host Manu Raju (original recorded on December 9th), Simmons called his relationship with Donald Trump “terrific” before criticizing Americans for caring too much about one another’s political beliefs.
“Not everybody loves Jesus, but you can certainly say the following: He was a duly elected president of these United States, perhaps overwhelming by the popular vote, as well as the Electoral College. End of story,” Simmons said, adding that it’s “nobody’s damn business who you support.”
“Nowadays, people engage in, so, are you pro or — and my first question is ‘Who the f— are you? Who are you?’” Simmons told Raju. “Since when does who I support or not support is the business of anyone except my conscience?”
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When Raju asked Simmons about the MAGA movement within the Republican Party, Simmons replied: “Some of it makes sense and some not.”
“But literally, have a sense of humor,” he added. “Take a pill, shut up and stop worrying what your next-door neighbor believes or doesn’t believe. It’s their America, too.”
Simmons also said he got some face time with Trump after receiving his Kennedy Center Honors award earlier this month, which Simmons called a “telling moment.”
“And I actually met the president and on and off for years and years, decades before he entered politics,” he said. “And the conversation was what human beings do. How’s the family? How are the kids? And, you know, all that stuff. It‘s not always about politics.”
Simmons also spoke on behalf of the musicians supporting the American Music Fairness Act, with the CNN interview being conducted a day before his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month. The bill would require terrestrial radio stations to pay artists and songwriters a greater share of royalties for playing their music.
“Radio stations last year made something like $14 billion,” he said. “Artists who you heard on the radio stations made zero. Your favorite artist, whether it’s a classic artist or a new artist, made zero. And that is inexcusable.”
Watch the CNN interview with Gene Simmons below.
Gene Simmons of KISS on Trump, MAGA, the state of politics and a bill he’s pushing on Capitol Hill involving royalties for musicians.
And why did KISS wear white makeup and black costumes?
“I wanted to become rich and famous and get chicks,” he said. pic.twitter.com/I9feJKaGtQ
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 21, 2025
