Between 2020 and the present day, the rise of patriotic music in America has been both impressive and culturally significant, signaling a shift in the nation's musical landscape. Sparked in large part by President Trump's rebel mentality and unapologetic “America First” stance, a wave of pro-America artists emerged, boldly challenging the dominance of Hollywood and mainstream music industry elites. These artists have raised their voices and given representation to millions of Americans who felt alienated by the increasingly progressive, nihilistic, hedonistic, anti-God, and anti-American tone of pop culture, instead championing themes of faith, freedom, familial love, national pride, and traditional values. As disillusionment with legacy media and entertainment institutions grew, so too did the appetite for music that resonated with liberty-oriented ideals, creating a grassroots movement that has redefined what political expression in music can look like in the 21st century.
In the not-so-distant past, rebels were those who sought throw off the expectations of traditional culture – now the tables have turned. With academia, the music industry, Hollywood, big business, and much of politics being run by progressive elitists who despise religious dedication and national pride, being traditionalist in any sense of the term makes one rebellious in 2025. It is within this setting that we see an ever-growing fandom embracing patriotic music across all genres, spanning from rap to blue grass and modern country music.
One of the standout figures in the rise of patriotic, right-wing, pro-Trump music over the past five years is Topher, a U.S. Air Force veteran turned rapper whose breakout hit “The Patriot” became a viral sensation in the early 2020s. The song struck a chord with millions, racking up views across platforms and resonating deeply with conservative audiences. With powerful lyrics that celebrated American values, military service, and support for President Trump, “The Patriot” became an anthem and its success marked a broader cultural shift as conservative voices began carving out a more prominent place in the music landscape.
Tom MacDonald is another chart-topping artist who has skyrocketed in popularity, using a mix of rock and rap to share his fight-the-system attitude with audiences. One of his most recent songs, “You Missed” celebrates the triumph of President Trump and the MAGA movement in the face of media smears, political targeting, and literal targeting at the hands of would-be assassins.
Sam Negron is an emerging singer and songwriter who has broken onto the patriotic music scene with his song “Drain the Swamp”, which has quickly started to gain traction with right-wing podcasters and TikTok stars. Following in the footsteps of pro-Trump megastars like Brian Kelley and blue grass and country viral sensation Oliver Anthony, Negron binds modern social and political commentary together with unifying sentiments about cleaning up corrupt systems which are long overdue for an overhaul. Interestingly, this very same sentiment is almost universally held about both the political swamp of Washington, DC and the musical swamp of Music City (as well as the music industry at large).
With these artists in mind, we must ask; what is it that brings so many people into the same tent? It isn’t musical style – Topher raps, MacDonald combines rock and hip-hop, while Kelley, Anthony, and Negron approach the country genre from various angles. The unifying factor also isn’t racial identity, as the handful of artists included in this writing span from white to black to Hispanic. The unifying factor is something else – something deeper and much more American – the unifying factor is a general shared belief which can be summarized in three words: God, Family, Country. People who love those three things tend to hold a great appreciation for their like-minded ideological brothers and sisters – even if their skin tones may vary and their musical tastes and talents may be diverse.
So when you get into your car tomorrow for your work commute, you could choose to listen to the lyrics of a mainstream pop, country, or rap star who hates you, your family, your church, and your ideals – or you could listen to people who would gladly sit down and have a burger with you at the next church cookout. You probably know which option I’d choose.
