Ted Nugent Takes Aim At Tom Morello: ‘You’re Not Raging Against The Machine. You Are The Machine’

Ted Nugent has once again fired up the culture war engines, this time turning his attention toward Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, a musician Nugent has previously described as a ‘good friend’.

In a new episode of his YouTube series The Spirit Campfire, titled Talk Music With Uncle Ted, Nugent went on a wide ranging rant that touched on politics, patriotism, and several Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artists, alongside jabs at Green Day, Eminem, and The White Stripes, Nugent reserved particular venom for Morello.

The comments are notable given Morello’s past attempts to frame their relationship as respectful despite ideological differences, speaking to The Guardian in 2017, Morello said:

“Ted Nugent’s a good friend to me. We have very similar views on freedom of speech… We’re able to talk about it as friends as opposed to people on the opposite sides of the barricade.”

That cordial framing didn’t carry over to Nugent’s latest remarks, while he acknowledged the musical abilities of several artists, Nugent repeatedly framed their work as undermined by politics he disagrees with:

“Like Tom Morello… who played with Springsteen and Rage Against The Machine, when actually they are the machine. Come on Tom, you got to know that. You’re not raging against the machine. You are the machine.”

Firing shots

Much of Nugent’s criticism centred on immigration and trans rights, topics Morello has publicly addressed for years, Nugent claimed that artists like Morello, Jack White, and Eminem oppose secure borders and American values, statements that reflect Nugent’s long standing conservative talking points rather than any new policy position from the musicians themselves.

The rant also included praise, albeit in Nugent’s own colourful language, for British artist YUNGBLUD, whom he described as a rare modern performer carrying forward the spirit of classic rock.

“Watch this YUNGBLUD… This guy’s the real McCoy… It gives you hope that the really piss and vinegar… is alive and well in this kid called YUNGBLUD.”

Morello has not responded publicly to Nugent’s latest comments, but given his long history of political activism and public rebuttals, that silence may not last.

For now, Nugent has left the door open, ending his tirade with a challenge directed squarely at his former friend.

“Hey, Tom, come on my show. Explain… make your case. Good luck.”