The Strokes closed their second weekend set at the Coachella music festival with a politically charged video montage criticizing the United States government and foreign policy. As the band performed their 2016 song 'Oblivius' for only the second time ever live, screens displayed references to alleged Central Intelligence Agency involvement in overseas regime changes, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and recent military actions in Iran and Gaza.

The montage named several foreign leaders it suggested were overthrown with Central Intelligence Agency backing and included claims about King’s death that have been disputed by the Department of Justice. It also featured imagery of slavery, Black Lives Matter protests, and destruction in the Middle East, ending with footage of military strikes and demolished university buildings.

Frontman Julian Casablancas had also made political remarks during the festival’s first weekend, joking about a potential military draft. Clips from the second weekend performance quickly spread online, drawing both praise and criticism for the band’s outspoken messaging. The group, which previously supported Senator Bernie Sanders, is preparing to release its first album in six years and embark on a global tour.