Liberal Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde praises Trump for Limbaugh honor — because she believes in the ‘right to disagree’

Liberal Pretenders' lead singer Chrissie Hynde issued praise Monday of President Donald Trump for giving conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Trump awarded the medal to Limbaugh during the State of the Union address earlier this month.

What are the details?

In a tweet, Hynde said that she appreciated Trump's move in an open letter calling for the president to work toward helping to free WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange.

Hynde, 68, said that her late father, Melville Hynde, was a big fan of Limbaugh and his long-running radio show. Melville Hynde passed away in 2010 at the age of 88.

"An open letter to @realDonaldTrump, President of the United States," Hynde began. "Dear Mr. President, I often think of how much my father, Melville 'Bud' Hynde, who proudly served his country as a Marine on Guadalcanal, would have enjoyed your Presidency."

"The other day when you gave that award to Rush Limbaugh, my father would have been so delighted," she added. "He loved listening to Rush, which is why I allowed my song, 'My City Was Gone,' to be used on his radio show. My father and I didn't always see eye-to-eye. We argued a lot."

She continued, "But isn't that the American way? The right to disagree without having your head chopped off? Soon, I will be participating in a protest in London against the extradition of Julian Assange. I know my father would be mortified, but I feel strongly enough to do ... what I believe is the right thing."

Hynde concluded by pointing out that Assange should be set free.

"[T]o protest further punishment of a man who sought to defend Freedom, albeit in a way you rightly disagree with," she wrote. "I know Mr. Assange broke the law (as I have done defending the treatment of animals) but I believe ... he has been duly punished and should now be set free. Please consider my plea."

Authorities arrested Assange outside of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in 2019. Assange faces extradition to the U.S. You can read more on the background of the Assange case here.

What else?

"My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders has been Limbaugh's theme song since 1984. In 2011, Limbaugh said he chose the song because he found it ironic that a conservative would use such an anti-conservative song. He also voiced his appreciation for the song's "unmistakable, totally recognizable bass line."

In 1999, Hynde's manager revealed that Limbaugh did not license the song properly, nor did he request permission from Hynde to use it as his bumper song. EMI music publishing later issued a cease and desist to prevent Limbaugh from using it on his radio show, but Hynde later said that Limbaugh was welcome to use the song as both of her parents loved Limbaugh's show.

Hynde, instead, suggested that Limbaugh make a $100,000 payment to her that she would, in turn, turn around and donate to PETA.

At the time, she said, "In light of Rush Limbaugh's vocal support of PETA's campaign against the Environmental Protection Agency's foolish plan to test some 3,000 chemicals on animals, I have decided to allow him to keep my song, 'My City Was Gone' as his signature tune."

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