Words have consequences. Update to this story.
British singer Morrissey said he was questioned by the U.S. Secret Service after he discussed killing President Trump in a recent interview.
The Grammy-nominated former frontman of The Smiths said in a recent YouTube video that he was interviewed by the Secret Service as a result of his comments to Der Spiegel, a German newspaper that published excerpts from the interview on Nov. 18.
On the topic of Mr. Trump, Der Spiegel asked the singer: “If there was a button, and if you press it he drops dead, would you press it or not?”
“I would for the safety of the human race,” Morrissey responded. “It’s nothing to do with my personal opinion of his face or his family, but in the interest of human race I would, yes.”
The singer’s remarks were eventually translated to English and reported by U.S. media outlets several days later.
According to Morrissey, his comments weren’t without consequences.
“As a further result of Der Spiegl, I was cross-examined by the American Secret Service, who were very, very nice. And I do understand their position. So that went very, very well, and they assured me that they have no cause for concern. But it was a direct result of Der Spiegl that I was cross-examined, which is very, very sad,” Morrissey said in a YouTube video uploaded Sunday.
“So congratulations, Der Spiegl,” he said. “You achieved everything that you set out to do. Whether again I’m allowed free access to America, I really don’t know. I have to wait and see if I can enter the country again. If I can’t, I have to say very sincere thanks to everyone who supported me in the U.S.”