Rap duo Bob Vylan may have their visas revoked ahead of a planned US tour, after chants of “Death to the IDF” during their Glastonbury performance triggered international condemnation. A senior State Department official told The Daily Wire that the department is “already looking at revocation” of the artists’ visas, citing President Donald Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy for individuals who “support terrorism”.
The London-based punk group, led by Pascal Robinson-Foster, is under police investigation in the UK after a Saturday performance that included multiple chants of “Death to the IDF” – a reference to the Israeli Defence Force – and slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free.”
The US Justice Department is now involved.
Leo Terrell, chair of the department’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, said his “first call” on Monday morning would be to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure Vylan is barred from entry.
“These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defence Forces, have no place in any civil society,” Terrell said in a statement.
“We understand that Mr Vylan is planning to travel to the United States as part of the Inertia Tour. In response, the Task Force will be reaching out to the US Department of State to determine what measures are available to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric.”
The tour, scheduled to begin next month, includes 20 US cities and features Canadian-American alt-rock artist Grandson as the headliner.
Before the Glastonbury row, Bob Vylan’s cut from the tour was likely to be modest.
But with international headlines and a surge in social media attention, some analysts now believe the duo could have earned up to $200,000 from ticket and merchandise revenue – if allowed into the US.
The duo remained unrepentant. In an Instagram post on Sunday, Robinson-Foster wrote that it was important to “encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us” and to “shout about it on any and every stage that we are offered.”
On Sunday, US-based advocacy group StopAntisemitism also called for action: “The antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded – his hate is not welcome here.”
The backlash has also reached UK ministers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the performance, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is understood to have contacted BBC Director-General Tim Davie for an explanation of the broadcaster’s vetting process.
Although the Glastonbury performance was later removed from iPlayer, it remained online for several hours after the incident.
The BBC holds exclusive broadcast rights for the festival.
Organisers of Glastonbury are also facing criticism for allowing both Bob Vylan and the controversial Belfast rap group Kneecap to perform. Kneecap’s frontman, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – known as Mo Chara – is facing terror charges after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and chanting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a London gig in November.
Despite those charges, organiser Emily Eavis had defended the group’s inclusion ahead of the festival, saying: “We remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world, and everyone is welcome here.”
Following Bob Vylan’s set, that tone changed slightly, with organisers admitting the group had “crossed the line”.
Caroline Turner, director of UK Lawyers for Israel, said: “The band led a gullible audience into chants of ‘Death to the IDF’, demonstrating how easily crowds can be manipulated – just as in Nazi Germany.
“We believe the band breached Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and possibly Section 16 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. We will be reporting them to the police.”
In Jerusalem, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel called the performance “truly disgusting”.
“Twenty months ago, in the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, 378 Israelis were butchered at a music festival on October 7,” she said. “They seem to forget that 50 hostages remain in Hamas hell. This must be investigated.”
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed officers were reviewing video footage.
