System Of A Down vocalist Serj Tankian is suggesting that drummer John Dolmayan’s support for Donald Trump may not be as strong as it once was.
For years, one of the biggest points of tension surrounding System Of A Down has been the stark political divide between Tankian and Dolmayan. While Tankian has long been outspoken about his progressive political views and activism, Dolmayan has publicly supported Trump, a stance that has frequently sparked debate among fans and occasionally created friction between the longtime bandmates.
Despite those differences, the two have maintained both their personal and professional relationship. Adding another layer to the dynamic, Tankian and Dolmayan are also brothers-in-law.
Speaking with Rolling Stone Italy, Tankian discussed the challenges of navigating political disagreements both within System Of A Down and within his own family. While careful not to speak on Dolmayan’s behalf, the singer hinted that the drummer’s views may have evolved over time.
“First of all, I don’t want to speak for John about his political views; that wouldn’t be fair. I can say that the verb ‘was’ [a Trump supporter] is correct. I can’t say for sure that it still is. I think he, too, got tired of Trump, like many others.”
The comments are noteworthy given Dolmayan’s history of publicly backing Trump. In previous interviews, the drummer acknowledged that his political views had cost him fans but remained firm in his support. He later expressed gratitude following Trump’s return to office and has continued sharing conservative political opinions in interviews and on social media.
While Tankian stopped short of claiming that Dolmayan has completely abandoned those views, he emphasized the importance of maintaining relationships despite political disagreements.
“Do differences make things more difficult? Of course. But there are also many points on which we agree. And John isn’t just my drummer, he’s also my brother-in-law. So it’s even more complicated.”
Tankian went on to highlight the deep bond they share through family, culture, and more than three decades of music together.
“We share so many things: our origins, our Armenian identity, our culture, our music, and everything we’ve built together over thirty years. And that carries a lot of weight.”
The vocalist also revealed that Dolmayan once voted for Barack Obama before later becoming a Trump supporter, pointing to that shift as evidence that political opinions can change over time.
“I’ll tell you one thing: before Trump, John voted for Barack Obama. I don’t even know if he says it publicly, but it’s true. People change. I know so many Armenians in Los Angeles who voted for Trump and now regret it. That’s all I can say.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Tankian defended the right of artists to speak openly about political issues, arguing that a person’s profession should never determine whether they can express their beliefs.
At this point, Dolmayan has not publicly responded to Tankian’s comments. As it stands, the remarks appear to reflect Tankian’s personal observations rather than confirmation that Dolmayan has formally distanced himself from Trump or changed his political views.
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