Legendary folk singer Joan Baez has once again made headlines — not for her music, but for a bold poem aimed directly at Donald Trump. The poem, titled “Little Green Worm: A Note to the President,” imagines that a tiny worm has eaten away parts of Trump’s brain — the parts responsible for empathy, intelligence, and decency.
Baez released this poem as part of her 2024 poetry collection When You See My Mother, Ask Her to Dance. In it, she mixes dark humor and sharp criticism to question Trump’s character and leadership. She even references real-life comments made by Trump that have caused outrage over the years — like “Grab her by the pussy,” his “shithole countries” remark, and his claims that Mexican immigrants are “criminals and rapists.”
The inspiration for the “worm” comes from an odd story about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s Secretary of Health, who once said a worm had eaten part of his brain and died inside his head. Baez begins the poem by pointing out how Trump surrounds himself with people “whose minds have been hollowed out by worms.” From there, she wonders if Trump’s own brain might be suffering from a similar problem — that perhaps a “little green worm” has eaten away the part responsible for compassion and understanding.
By the end of the poem, Baez delivers her harshest punchline yet. The worm, after traveling through the president’s brain, finds the part where intelligence should be — only to discover, as she writes, “oh shit, there’s nothing there.”
When The Independent asked the White House for a response, Communications Director Steven Cheung replied with just four words: “Who is Joan Baez?” That short, dismissive reply quickly went viral. Many saw it as an intentional snub — or perhaps proof that the administration didn’t want to engage with Baez’s biting critique.
This isn’t the first time Baez has spoken out against Trump. She’s long been known for using her art as activism, from protesting wars in the 1960s to speaking up for social justice today. Earlier this year, she joined Bruce Springsteen in criticizing the former president and even performed alongside Neil Young and Maggie Rogers at a rally supporting Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Baez told interviewers that the results of the 2024 election “surprised the shit out of me.” She added that America was “turning into a shithole country because of them” — echoing her frustration with Trump’s leadership and what she sees as a decline in American values.
The poem Little Green Worm might sound harsh, but it perfectly fits Baez’s fearless style. She’s always used her voice — whether through song or poetry — to challenge those in power and stand up for what she believes in.
And while the White House may have shrugged her off, the internet hasn’t. Fans and readers are praising the poem for its creativity, humor, and bold honesty.
Even at 83, Joan Baez proves that art can still be a powerful form of protest — and that sometimes, a few poetic lines can make more noise than a thousand speeches.