Pearl Jam, whose cliche nature was already the subject of mockery 20 years ago, appears to have joined so many other celebrities calling for the death of President Trump. Again, this is neither an original nor particularly interesting concept. A new Pearl Jam poster depicts what looks like the skeletal remains of the president on the front lawn of a burning White House with a bald eagle picking at the bones and a shock of yellow hair sprouting through the skull.
![Pearl Jam [Enhanced]](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/trump-poster.png)
Bizarrely enough, this is a problem for Sen. John Tester. Pearl Jam is touring through Big Sky Country and fundraising for the Montana Democrat.
Pearl Jam performed at the Washington-Grizzly stadium on the University of Montana campus Monday playing all the fan favorites like “Alive,” “Black,” and “Even Flow.” But halfway through the show, Pearl Jam front man, Eddie Vedder, switched from rock and roll to community organizing for Tester.
“There is one crowd size that we would be proud of, and that we would brag about. And that is if the state of Montana had the largest youth vote, the largest crowd, that came together in this upcoming election. That I would brag about all (expletive) day,” he said.
Before stumping on stage for the senior senator from Montana, Pearl Jam partnered with Tester for a “Rock on Jon” ticket package. A donation to the Tester campaign, according to a report by the Missoulian, bought the politically minded rock fan a ticket to the show and entry into a fundraiser hosted by the two-term senator and Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament.
Official artwork by Jeff Ament and Bobby Brown from last night’s show in Missoula. #TheAwayShows #Rock2Vote pic.twitter.com/CQI4chGEjs
— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) August 14, 2018
As the distinction between art and politics diminishes, this sort of pop-culture political activism has become more and more common. It comes with certain risks, though, which could now complicate Tester’s re-election bid.
Trump’s dead cartoon body is reminiscent of the Kathy Griffin incident in particular. That comic held up what looked like the severed head of the president in a photo shoot. She later apologized, an example that Tester might want to follow. Trump has a positive approval rating in the state.
