Jesse Welles Skewers Tech Billionaires In ‘The Nerd Reich’ On ‘Kimmel’

Jesse Welles surrounded himself with American flags while picking apart the state of the nation on Tuesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Arkansas singer-songwriter returned to the ABC program to perform “The Nerd Reich,” his satirical broadside against Silicon Valley billionaires and the Trump administration.

Welles stood alone with his acoustic guitar before rows of American flags flanking a giant bald eagle with outstretched wings and a red-and-white-striped shield across its chest. Blue lighting washed over the set as the flags reflected across the glossy stage floor.

“The Nerd Reich” takes its title from journalist Gil Durán’s book, The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy. Welles first shared the song online in August before releasing a self-produced recording on October 30 alongside fellow single “Whirlwind.” Durán celebrated the song upon its arrival, identifying his book as its inspiration.

The song connects frustration with war, economic conditions and culture-war distractions to the concentration of wealth and political power. Billionaire Peter Thiel, surveillance technology company Palantir and Vice President JD Vance are among its targets. He returns throughout to a refrain expressing exhaustion and likening the administration to a circus. His Kimmel rendition also included a jab at Pete Hegseth that imagined a return to Fox for the former television host.

Welles made his late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live on March 27, 2025. That appearance featured a performance of “Horses”, the opening track from his album Middle.

Watch Jesse Welles perform “The Nerd Reich” on Jimmy Kimmel Live below: