Ted Nugent Says Tom Morello Isn’t ‘Raging Against The Machine’ — ‘You Are the Machine’

Ted Nugent has reignited his long running culture war, this time setting his sights on Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, a musician he once considered a friend despite their opposing politics.

In a recent episode of his YouTube series The Spirit Campfire, Nugent delivered a rambling monologue touching on music, patriotism, and political ideology.

Along the way, he took shots at multiple Rock & Roll Hall of Fame artists, including Green Day, Eminem, The White Stripes, and Morello, framing his criticism almost entirely around their political views rather than their musicianship.

The comments stand in sharp contrast to how Morello previously described their relationship, 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 goodwill appears to have evaporated, while Nugent acknowledged that several of the artists he criticized are talented, he dismissed their politics in blunt terms. His most pointed remark was aimed squarely at the Rage Against the Machine guitarist:

“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.”

Shots fired

Much of Nugent’s rant revolved around immigration, trans rights, and opposition to Donald Trump, positions Morello has been outspoken about for years both onstage and off.

Nugent claimed that artists who oppose stricter border policies “don’t believe in America”, rhetoric that mirrors his broader political messaging rather than any new stance from the musicians themselves.

Despite the hostility, Nugent ended his tirade with an open invitation: “Hey, Tom, come on my show. Explain… make your case. Good luck.”

Interestingly, the episode wasn’t entirely negative, Nugent also offered enthusiastic praise for British artist Yungblud, framing him as a rare modern performer who still carries the spirit of classic rock.

“This guy’s the real McCoy… It gives you hope that the really piss and vinegar… is alive and well.”

Morello has yet to respond publicly, but given his history of confronting criticism head-on, that silence may only be temporary.