Art Garfunkel and his subsequent decision under Trump's policies

NEW YORK — Art Garfunkel is considering leaving the United States, saying he is deeply troubled by the country’s direction under President Donald Trump and increasingly concerned about global warming.

 

 

 

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Garfunkel Says He Is Considering Leaving America

The 84-year-old singer made the comments in a recent Guardian interview, where he discussed politics, climate change, his long career and his plans to return to international stages.

Garfunkel said he was dissatisfied with America’s current position and acknowledged that he was seriously thinking about living somewhere outside the United States.

“I don’t like America’s position at all,” Garfunkel said, adding that he was “thinking of leaving the country” as he reflected on the country’s direction.

His remarks were not presented as an immediate departure announcement, however. Garfunkel described the possibility of leaving while continuing to discuss travel, music and his hopes for the future.

The singer’s concerns extend beyond Trump himself. He pointed to climate change, rising water levels and global hunger as problems that have influenced his increasingly pessimistic view of the world.

Venezuela Becomes a Major Point of Concern

Garfunkel also sharply questioned Trump’s approach to Venezuela, referring to the U.S. military operation that resulted in Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro being captured and removed from power.

The musician questioned whether such an intervention represented a dangerous new model for international relations, asking whether powerful countries could simply take control of other nations.

He described the situation as “shocking” and questioned how Americans could change the presidency, before offering a more hopeful observation: Trump would not remain president forever.

That final point revealed an important qualification to Garfunkel’s criticism. Although deeply unhappy with current policies, he did not portray America’s future as permanently doomed under the current administration.

Instead, he expressed hope that political circumstances would eventually change, suggesting that his frustration is directed primarily toward the country’s present course.

 

 

 

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Climate Change Is Another Major Concern

Garfunkel connected his political concerns with environmental issues, arguing that climate change, rising water levels and global poverty represent challenges that cannot easily be separated from international politics.

His comments place him within a broader group of prominent American entertainers who have publicly expressed discomfort with Trump’s presidency or discussed the possibility of living abroad.

However, Garfunkel’s remarks should not be interpreted as evidence that large numbers of Americans are actually leaving the country because of Trump.

There is a significant difference between celebrities publicly considering relocation and reliable evidence demonstrating a nationwide migration movement caused by political dissatisfaction.

Garfunkel Is Actually Heading Abroad

Ironically, Garfunkel’s immediate plans already involve substantial international travel, although his scheduled journey is connected to music rather than political exile.

His official website lists an extensive 2026 concert schedule spanning the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan as part of his “What a Wonderful World” performances.

The tour begins with U.S. performances before moving overseas, including dates in Watford, Manchester, Wolverhampton, London, Paris and Hamburg during October.

His international schedule therefore provides a striking contrast to the political uncertainty he described: while contemplating America’s future, Garfunkel is simultaneously preparing to spend considerable time performing abroad.

The Guardian interview also portrayed Garfunkel as restless and adventurous at 84, with ambitions extending well beyond politics, including travel, performing and continuing to explore new creative experiences.

A Career That Has Always Looked Beyond America

Garfunkel became internationally famous as one half of Simon & Garfunkel, the legendary duo behind songs including “The Sound of Silence” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

His life after the duo’s peak has also been unusually varied. He has acted, written, taught mathematics and undertaken long-distance journeys, while repeatedly returning to music as his central passion.

The Guardian reported that Garfunkel had been away from regular live performance since 2019 before rediscovering his enthusiasm for singing and deciding to return to the stage.

His upcoming performances therefore represent more than a conventional tour. They mark a late-career return for an artist who has spent decades moving between music, travel, writing and personal exploration.

Politics Has Not Ended His Optimism

Despite his criticism of Trump, Garfunkel remains capable of expressing optimism. He acknowledged that presidents eventually leave office and suggested Americans must continue hoping for political change.

That distinction is important because his comments are better understood as an expression of personal disillusionment than as a formal political campaign or declaration of permanent expatriation.

For now, there is no indication that Garfunkel has finalized a permanent move abroad or abandoned the United States as his home.

Instead, his words reveal an artist questioning whether the America he recognizes still reflects the values and international role he wants to support.

His planned performances abroad may therefore carry an additional significance for audiences, coming at a moment when the singer is publicly wrestling with America’s political identity.

Garfunkel’s comments are unlikely to settle the larger debate over Trump’s presidency, but they illustrate how political disagreements can reach beyond Washington and into America’s cultural establishment.

For an artist whose music has been associated with generations of American listeners, questioning the country’s direction carries symbolic weight far beyond a celebrity interview.

Yet his next move appears to be musical rather than political: Garfunkel is preparing to travel, perform and reconnect with audiences across several countries.

His decision to keep singing while questioning America’s direction may ultimately be the most revealing part of the story — a sign of uncertainty, but also evidence that he has not given up on the future.