Miguel fears shift toward totalitarianism, slams Trump immigration crackdown Anika Reed, USA TODAYOctober 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM 0 NEW YORK — Miguel is speaking out about the current administration.
- - Miguel fears shift toward totalitarianism, slams Trump immigration crackdown
Anika Reed, USA TODAYOctober 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
0
NEW YORK — Miguel is speaking out about the current administration.
The R&B singer-songwriter returned with a new album, "Caos" (out now), and a passionate perspective about the "scary" state of politics.
Miguel's embrace of his Mexican heritage musically, with multiple songs on "Caos" written and sung in Spanish, has coincided with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, including mass deportations and expansion of ICE detention centers.
"It was like a 'Twilight Zone'," Miguel recalls of Trump's first term as president, which was "an execution of divisiveness on a stage like the presidency" that "actually inspired people to be outspoken about maybe what they were holding close to their chest in terms of how they felt about their fellow citizens … (or) about people of other ethnicities and religious beliefs."
Miguel is 'not a perfect person' and made sure that showed in new album, 'Caos'
Miguel's fifth album, 2025's "Caos," comes eight years since his last studio album, 2017's "War & Leisure." Look back on the R&B singer-songwriter's musical career.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/b3lMKP5 class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel's fifth album, 2025's "Caos," comes eight years since his last studio album, 2017's "War & Leisure." Look back on the R&B singer-songwriter's musical career.
">Miguel's fifth album, 2025's "Caos," comes eight years since his last studio album, 2017's "War & Leisure." Look back on the R&B singer-songwriter's musical career.
" src=https://ift.tt/b3lMKP5 class=caas-img>Miguel attends the BET Awards on July 1, 2012, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/KgPj2VD class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel attends the BET Awards on July 1, 2012, in Los Angeles.
">Miguel attends the BET Awards on July 1, 2012, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/KgPj2VD class=caas-img>Miguel and Wale, right, won the award for best collaboration for "Lotus Flower Bomb" at the 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/NcsWOAp class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel and Wale, right, won the award for best collaboration for "Lotus Flower Bomb" at the 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
">Miguel and Wale, right, won the award for best collaboration for "Lotus Flower Bomb" at the 2012 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/NcsWOAp class=caas-img>Miguel performs during the Soul Train Awards on Nov. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/aVMwk8l class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs during the Soul Train Awards on Nov. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas.
">Miguel performs during the Soul Train Awards on Nov. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas.
" src=https://ift.tt/aVMwk8l class=caas-img>Miguel won the award for best male R&B and soul artist during the Soul Train Awards on Nov. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/pAzC10x class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel won the award for best male R&B and soul artist during the Soul Train Awards on Nov. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas.
">Miguel won the award for best male R&B and soul artist during the Soul Train Awards on Nov. 8, 2012, in Las Vegas.
" src=https://ift.tt/pAzC10x class=caas-img>Mariah Carey and Miguel perform on ABC's "Good Morning America" on May 24, 2013, in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/L4xv2Jf class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Mariah Carey and Miguel perform on ABC's "Good Morning America" on May 24, 2013, in New York City.
">Mariah Carey and Miguel perform on ABC's "Good Morning America" on May 24, 2013, in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/L4xv2Jf class=caas-img>Nazanin Mandi, left, and Miguel attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Nw2QRtI class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Nazanin Mandi, left, and Miguel attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles.
">Nazanin Mandi, left, and Miguel attend the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 30, 2015, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/Nw2QRtI class=caas-img>Miguel performs on stage at the VH1 Big Music in 2015: You Oughta Know Concert on Nov. 12, 2015, in New York City.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/RkyZQJj class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs on stage at the VH1 Big Music in 2015: You Oughta Know Concert on Nov. 12, 2015, in New York City.
">Miguel performs on stage at the VH1 Big Music in 2015: You Oughta Know Concert on Nov. 12, 2015, in New York City.
" src=https://ift.tt/RkyZQJj class=caas-img>Miguel and Tori Kelly perform on stage at A+E Networks Shining A Light concert on Nov. 18, 2015, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/aB6VcFA class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel and Tori Kelly perform on stage at A+E Networks Shining A Light concert on Nov. 18, 2015, in Los Angeles.
">Miguel and Tori Kelly perform on stage at A+E Networks Shining A Light concert on Nov. 18, 2015, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/aB6VcFA class=caas-img>Miguel performs on stage on Feb. 10, 2016, in Hollywood, California.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/V3Du4FX class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs on stage on Feb. 10, 2016, in Hollywood, California.
">Miguel performs on stage on Feb. 10, 2016, in Hollywood, California.
" src=https://ift.tt/V3Du4FX class=caas-img>A$AP Rocky, left, and Miguel perform during the 2016 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 22, 2016, in Indio, California.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ISk4AVg class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
A$AP Rocky, left, and Miguel perform during the 2016 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 22, 2016, in Indio, California.
">A$AP Rocky, left, and Miguel perform during the 2016 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on April 22, 2016, in Indio, California.
" src=https://ift.tt/ISk4AVg class=caas-img>Gael Garcia Bernal, left, Natalia Lafourcade, center, and Miguel arrive for the 90th Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/xtB3NbW class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Gael Garcia Bernal, left, Natalia Lafourcade, center, and Miguel arrive for the 90th Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, in Los Angeles.
">Gael Garcia Bernal, left, Natalia Lafourcade, center, and Miguel arrive for the 90th Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/xtB3NbW class=caas-img>Miguel performs during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 22, 2018 in Indio, California.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/o7LuTIA class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 22, 2018 in Indio, California.
">Miguel performs during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 22, 2018 in Indio, California.
" src=https://ift.tt/o7LuTIA class=caas-img>Miguel performs on stage on June 2, 2018 in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/SeQRN1L class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs on stage on June 2, 2018 in Los Angeles.
">Miguel performs on stage on June 2, 2018 in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/SeQRN1L class=caas-img>Miguel and Nazanin Mandi attend Elton John AIDS Foundation's 30th annual Academy Awards viewing party on March 27, 2022, in West Hollywood, California.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/VYreHKR class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel and Nazanin Mandi attend Elton John AIDS Foundation's 30th annual Academy Awards viewing party on March 27, 2022, in West Hollywood, California.
">Miguel and Nazanin Mandi attend Elton John AIDS Foundation's 30th annual Academy Awards viewing party on March 27, 2022, in West Hollywood, California.
" src=https://ift.tt/VYreHKR class=caas-img>Miguel performs music from his unreleased "Viscera Experience" on Aug. 25, 2023 in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/3iNhTnm class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs music from his unreleased "Viscera Experience" on Aug. 25, 2023 in Los Angeles.
">Miguel performs music from his unreleased "Viscera Experience" on Aug. 25, 2023 in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/3iNhTnm class=caas-img>Miguel performs on stage during Honeyland Festival on Nov. 11, 2023, in Sugar Land, Texas.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/xhwkgmD class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs on stage during Honeyland Festival on Nov. 11, 2023, in Sugar Land, Texas.
">Miguel performs on stage during Honeyland Festival on Nov. 11, 2023, in Sugar Land, Texas.
" src=https://ift.tt/xhwkgmD class=caas-img>Miguel performs at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball on Dec. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/9UlPuGb class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball on Dec. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles.
">Miguel performs at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball on Dec. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/9UlPuGb class=caas-img>Miguel performs on stage at iHeartRadio 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2023 Presented by Capital One at The Kia Forum on Dec. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/3uArp5C class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel performs on stage at iHeartRadio 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2023 Presented by Capital One at The Kia Forum on Dec. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles.
">Miguel performs on stage at iHeartRadio 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2023 Presented by Capital One at The Kia Forum on Dec. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://ift.tt/3uArp5C class=caas-img>Miguel attends the 2024 GQ Men of the Year party at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, 2024.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/j5S4Nra class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel attends the 2024 GQ Men of the Year party at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, 2024.
">Miguel attends the 2024 GQ Men of the Year party at Bar Marmont in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, 2024.
" src=https://ift.tt/j5S4Nra class=caas-img>Miguel poses for a portrait at USA TODAY's studio in 2025.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/5wp8xOh class=caas-img data-headline="R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights" data-caption="
Miguel poses for a portrait at USA TODAY's studio in 2025.
">Miguel poses for a portrait at USA TODAY's studio in 2025.
" src=https://ift.tt/5wp8xOh class=caas-img>
1 / 21R&B singer Miguel's music career has been a 'Sure Thing.' See highlights
Miguel's fifth album, 2025's "Caos," comes eight years since his last studio album, 2017's "War & Leisure." Look back on the R&B singer-songwriter's musical career.
And "eight years later now … to see a more tangible execution of a sentiment that really touches on totalitarianism and a real control, to see it affect not just non-citizens, but actual citizens – it's a scary time," Miguel says.
Protests about United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions have popped up in his hometown of Los Angeles in recent months since Trump's second term began in January.
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"It puts us at a real apex … because we have to make some really, really intentional decisions about what we allow and what we don't allow.
"I'm not a politician. I don't pretend to be, I'm not a scholar in this way, but I know that we are born with a sense of what is right and wrong. And I would wager my career on the fact that most people are looking at what's happening and feel like something is not right."
The "Adorn" singer also added his voice to the growing chorus of entertainers weighing in on fears of being "silenced," following criticism around Bad Bunny's selection as Super Bowl halftime show headliner and the cancellation and temporary suspension of late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel, respectively.
Miguel says, "It's important when we see talent being silenced in the way that we have, and then also seeing how (with) capitalism, decisions change when the money is affected. We have to take note of those things and look at where the power is and how to actually change things in the direction that we want it to go."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miguel slams 'totalitarianism' in politics amid Trump crackdown
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