FORMER Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain has revealed he declined an invitation to play golf with Donald Trump.
The comments were made in an interview with the British newspaper The Telegraph ahead of the release of McBrain’s autobiography.
McBrain, who lives in Florida, explained the circumstances of the invitation. “I was actually invited to go and play golf with him,” he said. “A friend of mine who’s a massive Republican said, ‘Oh, do you want to come and play golf with us? With the president.’”
His response was immediate and unambiguous. “And I said, ‘You fucking what?’… and I just said, ‘No. No, mate.’” The invitation came via the friend rather than directly from the president, and McBrain did not specify when the proposed outing would have occurred.
Reflecting on his stance, McBrain stated: “I’m not politically inclined, although I must be because I have my thoughts about him.” He went on to outline several areas of concern regarding the president.
“I’m not amused by the narcissism, and all this kerfuffle about the Epstein files and whatnot, and especially the debauched war that he’s put on Iran,” McBrain said. The remarks formed part of a broader assessment of the current administration.
He also addressed United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. “And this Pete Hegseth business — oh, he’s going to be put in prison,” the drummer added.
McBrain concluded his comments on the matter with a clear statement. “My last word on Trump and his bunch of cronies is, they should be put in jail.” The interview coincided with promotional activity for his memoir.
The autobiography, titled Hello Boys and Girls!, was scheduled for release on October 22 in the United Kingdom. Publishers have described it as a personal account of McBrain’s life and career with one of Britain’s most successful heavy metal bands.
McBrain served as Iron Maiden’s drummer from 1982 until retiring from touring in 2024 after more than four decades with the group. He continues to be associated with the band, which is set for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
When asked about the proximity of his Boca Raton home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, McBrain replied: “Too fucking close, mate.” The two locations are roughly a half-hour drive apart in Florida.
