Mike Love of 'The Beach Boys' performs at Mar-a-Lago despite bandmates distancing themselves from Trump

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: The Beach Boys might be all about good vibes in their music, but things behind the scenes are far from harmonious.

Mike Love, one of the founding members of the iconic band, once again reopened old wounds by performing at President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago bash on Saturday night, December 28.

A poolside performance for Donald Trump after the 2020 trophy-hunting controversy

Mike Love, who tours with his own version of the Beach Boys (sans Brian Wilson and Al Jardine), was spotted serenading guests at Donald Trump’s Florida compound. The moment was shared on Instagram by partygoer Oleg Kouznetsov, showing Trump and Melania strolling poolside as Love and his band crooned in the background.

According to the Daily Beast, the performance may have reignited old tensions between Love and his former bandmates, who have been openly opposed to Love’s association with Trump-related events in the past.

Love’s version of the Beach Boys has a history of playing at Trump events, much to the dismay of Wilson and Jardine. Back in 2020, Love’s group performed at a trophy-hunting fundraiser in Reno, Nevada, attended by Donald Trump Jr, as well as a Trump campaign event in Newport Beach, California.

These performances didn’t sit well with Wilson and Jardine, who made their disapproval loud and clear. After the Reno event, Wilson took to Twitter (now X), urging fans to boycott Love’s Beach Boys. “This organization supports trophy hunting, which both Al and I are emphatically opposed to,” Wilson wrote at the time.

Ahead of the Newport Beach fundraiser, the pair issued a statement distancing themselves from the event. “We have absolutely nothing to do with the Trump benefit today in Newport Beach. Zero… We didn’t even know about it and were very surprised to read about it in The Los Angeles Times,” their spokesperson told Variety.

A split in the surf and Mike Love's support for Donald Trump

The Beach Boys, who originally formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California, have had their fair share of splits over the years. Brian Wilson and Al Jardine now tour together, performing Beach Boys hits under Wilson’s name, while Mike Love continues to tour with his own lineup under the Beach Boys name because of a license he owns.

The last time all the surviving members came together was for the band’s 50th-anniversary tour in 2012. After that, Love chose to go his own way and left fans with two competing versions of the Beach Boys.

Love has never shied away from his support for Trump, even famously posing for a thumbs-up photo with him in front of the Washington Monument. In a 2017 interview with Uncut magazine, Love defended his ties to the former president.

“I don’t have anything negative to say about the president of the USA,” Love said when asked if he had any disagreements with Trump.

“We did attend the inauguration. [His version of the Beach Boys headlined one of Trump’s inaugural balls.] That was a moving experience. I understand there are so many factions and fractious things going on – the chips will fall where they may. But Donald Trump has never been anything but kind to us. We have known him for many a year. We’ve performed at some of his venues at fundraisers and so on," he added.

John Stamos joins the fun

Mike Love’s Beach Boys now also tour with actor John Stamos, a longtime collaborator with the band. Stamos appeared on their Endless Summer Gold 2024 tour, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their album of the same name.

In a statement, Stamos gushed about the band’s timeless music.

“I believe their songs have been patiently waiting for this moment, perfectly timed to uplift spirits, especially when needed the most,” he said. “I’m humbled that I get to be part of something truly special, something bigger than ourselves.”

Bruce Johnston, who joined the Beach Boys in 1965, also remains a part of Love’s touring lineup.