In what’s fast becoming a hallmark of modern pop culture, this year’s When We Were Young music festival in Las Vegas served up more than nostalgic riffs and early-2000s throwbacks. Alongside hits from Blink-182, Avril Lavigne, The Offspring, and Simple Plan came a wave of pointed political messaging—much of it aimed squarely at President Donald Trump and in vocal support of the Palestinian cause.
Held over several days in early October, the event drew tens of thousands of fans, many paying upwards of $425 for entry. What they received wasn’t just a reunion with their favorite emo and alt-rock bands, but a fusion of music and activism—a stage transformed into a platform for far-left slogans, anti-Trump rhetoric, and statements on global conflict.
At the heart of the political flare-up was a surge of pro-Palestinian messaging. Bert McCracken, frontman of The Used, took the mic to scream “Freedom for fucking Palestine,” while his bandmates unfurled a massive Palestinian flag during their set. Bassist Adam Russell of Story of the Year wore a t-shirt that read “Destroy American Fascism,” and The Offspring’s guitarist took the stage in a “No Kings” shirt—a slogan increasingly linked to anti-establishment, anti-Trump protest movements.
The Used hung a Freedom For Palestine flag during their performance at When We Were Young Festival yesterday.
📷 @kristnstews pic.twitter.com/dry7HMH9hi
— State of the Scene (@SOTSPodcast) October 19, 2025
While artists have long used concerts to express political views, the pointed tone and visual theatrics of this year’s festival signaled a growing willingness in the pop-punk scene to merge performance with protest. That political stance didn’t come without irony: the anti-corporate messages stood in stark contrast to the event’s major corporate sponsorship. Brands including 7-Eleven, Coors, Lyft, Don Julio, and Club Wyndham all backed the event—raising eyebrows among some observers who noted the tension between radical messaging and mass-market funding.
Since its debut in 2017, When We Were Young has served as a nostalgic touchstone for Millennials and older Gen Z fans who came of age to the anthems of bands like Weezer and Simple Plan. But in 2025, it has evolved into something more—a reflection of how deeply politics has permeated entertainment, and how rock’s rebellious spirit is now often aimed squarely at conservative America and its institutions.
Unsurprisingly, the political posture drew applause from some quarters and backlash from others. Critics argued that the concert veered too far into ideology, using music as a delivery mechanism for divisive slogans rather than unity. Supporters, on the other hand, hailed the artists for using their platforms to speak out on issues they believe in.
What that means for the future of When We Were Young—a festival once built on heartbreak anthems and teenage angst—is still unfolding. But one thing is certain: the days of political-free stages, at least in this corner of rock, are over.
