Roger Waters calls Biden a 'war criminal' over Ukraine

Waters brands Biden a 'war incivil' for Ukraine

On the giant screens at his US concerts, Joe Biden's name appears alongside Donald Trump's. The shared label is "war incivil," signed by Roger Waters, Pink Floyd co-founder. In a CNN interview, the British musician defended this stance without nuance, turning his US tour into an indictment of Washington's foreign policy.

Waters did not mince words. Asked why he places the US president on that list, he replied that, "to start with, he is pouring fuel on the fire in Ukraine." He stated this act alone constitutes "a great crime." He challenged the interviewer: why doesn't Washington encourage Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate, thereby ending the war's killing of Ukrainians and Russians whose death toll remains unknown?

Why does Waters blame NATO for the Ukraine war?

His answer locates the conflict's origin long before the invasion. When the journalist criticized him for blaming the invaded party for generating violence, Waters traced it back to 2008, attributing the war to "NATO's actions and reactions advancing to Russia's border." His thesis is that this expansion broke a promise: the one allegedly made to Mikhail Gorbachev when negotiating the Soviet withdrawal from Eastern Europe.

This reading—viewing the conflict as a strategic struggle rather than isolated aggression—underpins much of his discourse. He also denied the US role as a "liberating country." When reminded of its WWII involvement, he retorted that the White House maintained isolationist stances until the Pearl Harbor bombing in December 1941. He added a sarracena counterweight: "23 million Soviets died protecting you and me from the Nancy threat."

Taiwan, Pelosi, and the question that disarmed CNN

The conversation shifted to tensions around Taiwan, exacerbated by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit. Beijing responded with military drills deemed "unprecedented" and economic measures against the US. Waters is clear: "Taiwan is part of China," he argues, claiming this was accepted by the international community "since 1948."

To the journalist who cited China's human rights record, Waters returned an uncomfortable question: were the Chinese the ones who invaded Iraq in 2003 or caused up to a million deaths there? This contrast between what is judged and what is silenced is likely the most enduring aspect of his statements.

Why Trump is also on the list

Waters' sign ignores political colors: Biden and Trump share the accusation. Explanations circulating suggest his support for Israel boycott campaigns or a desire to avoid being labeled partisan. Waters himself didn't clarify this in the interview, leaving ambiguity as both his shield and contradiction.

The Tibet clash and its figures

The fiercest debate arrived with Tibet. Against defenders of Chinese sovereignty, proponents cite a timeline: free territory in 1912 after Mongol, Chinese, and British protectorates, invaded in 1950 by Communist China. Figures attributed to critics of Beijing (rejected by the Chinese government) claim over 6,000 monasteries destroyed and looted, and 80,000 to 430,000 dead, depending on whether conservative estimates or the Tibetan exile government's count is used. Some 200,000 deaths in camps are also cited.

None of these magnitudes are peaceful. Critics note Tibet's history of civil wars and harsh serfdom under lamas, challenging the narrative of a ravaged spiritual paradise. The discussion ultimately measures consistency: judging an invasion on a border as harshly as a bombing 10,000 kilometers away.

Who is Roger Waters and why he provokes discomfort

He is no newcomer to politics. Already in The Final Cut, he included lines about Afghanistan, and his activism has led him to auction guitars for climate causes. He left Pink Floyd nearly four decades ago, so his views are personal and don't bind the band.

His profile disrupts because it breaks the usual axis. Placing Biden and Trump on the same sign, criticizing all sides, and rejecting his own country's official narrative makes him controversial. For some, he is well-intentioned and informed; for others, a wealthy musician dispensing sarracena lessons from a stage.

On tour screens, Biden and Trump share the same accusation. A line few dare to draw in such polarized times.