Did Nero really fiddle while Rome burned, and why are people linking this to Donald Trump?
“Nero fiddled while Rome burned,” the saying goes. But why are people linking an ancient legend to a meme of Donald Trump playing the violin?
· archived 5/18/2026, 12:38:52 AMscreenshotcached html Did Nero really fiddle while Rome burned, and why are people linking this to... - Classic FM Register | Sign in Skip to content skip to navigation Classic FM Listen On Air Now Classic FM's More Music Drive with John Brunning 4pm - 7pm Now Playing Seascapes for viola and orchestra (2) Alexey Shor Download 'Seascapes for viola and orchestra (2)' on iTunes Playlist Schedule Home Radio News Discover Music Composers Artists Lifestyle Win Charity Podcasts Events Dating Sign in / Register Follow us on: Follow Classic FM on Twitter Follow Classic FM on Facebook Follow Classic FM on Instagram Follow Classic FM on Youtube News Coronavirus Videos Pictures Did Nero really fiddle while Rome burned, and why are people linking this to Donald Trump? 10 March 2020, 11:39 | Updated: 10 March 2020, 12:51 About our adsClose this ad “Nero fiddles while Rome burns”. Picture: Getty By Maddy Shaw Roberts “Nero fiddled while Rome burned,” the saying goes. But why are people linking an ancient legend to a meme of Donald Trump playing the violin? On Sunday, White House social media director Dan Scavino tweeted a meme of US President Donald Trump playing the violin with his eyes closed, with the caption: “My next piece is called nothing can stop what’s coming”.Trump later retweeted the meme, adding: “Who knows what this means, but it sounds good to me!”In the hours since, people have been weighing in on the meme, likening it to artwork of the Roman emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned (see above). “Nero” started trending on Twitter early on Monday morning, as people linked the ancient legend to President Trump’s reaction to coronavirus, which has seen 546 confirmed cases and 22 deaths in the United States.The US President has been criticised for inaccurately claiming that a vaccine will be available soon, that there are tests available for every American who needs one, and that the virus will be killed off by the Spring weather.Read more: Politicians playing musical instruments, ranked from worst to best > But did Nero really fiddle while Rome burned?“Nero fiddles while Rome burns” has become a phrase used to criticise someone who is doing something trivial or irresponsible in the face of an emergency. Nero was blamed for ignoring a serious matter, and neglecting his people while they suffered.In the summer of AD 64, Rome was devastated by a huge fire that lasted six days. Half the city’s population was made homeless and the blaze destroyed 70 per cent of the buildings. The Romans wanted someone to blame, and they looked to their already despised Emperor. The notion that Nero “fiddled” while Rome burned is unlikely to be true – firstly, because violins were invented 1,500 years after Rome was devastated.Read more: Who made the world’s first violin? >However, Nero had a great passion for music and enjoyed playing the cithara – a stringed instrument like a lyre (see below) which was perhaps, over time, replaced by the more universally recognised word ‘fiddle’. About our adsClose this ad Emperor Nero was a gifted cithara player. Picture: Getty A second theory says the story may have nothing at all to do with music – being, rather, a metaphor for Nero’s inability to deal with a crisis. ‘Fiddling’, as well as playing the violin, can also mean procrastinating or messing around with trivial matters in the face of an emergency.Read more: The ‘Shame Flute’ was used to punish bad musicians in the Middle Ages >Surprisingly, Nero’s devotion to music wasn’t seen as a particularly positive thing.The emperor was criticised by ancient authors of being an “actor-emperor”, saying his passion for the arts exceeded what was acceptable for a Roman of his social standing. Sponsored Content Recommended by Skip Ad▶ SkipAds by Latest on Classic FM Unearthed footage shows virtuosic ‘Ski Ballet’ performed at the 1992 Winter Olympics Discover Music Andrew Marr joins Classic FM to host new Sunday morning programme When Luciano Pavarotti sang with his 88-year-old father in an emotional duet Luciano Pavarotti Dame Judi Dench pianist? Legendary actor surprises pub crowd with impromptu ABBA duet Videos John Suchet awarded OBE in New Year Honours alongside leading music figures Yo-Yo Ma’s ‘Bach’ cameo in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery explained Yo-Yo Ma A perfect new year gift: this stunning ‘Auld Lang Syne’ from University College Dublin’s choir Videos Lizzo weeps tears of joy as flautist hero James Galway plays her a Christmas carol Sir James Galway “Once in a generation talent” – 12-year-old treble Malakai Bayoh sings ‘Walking in the Air’ with Aled Jones Aled Jones What makes the perfect Christmas carol? We asked choral composing legend John Rutter... Rutter About our adsYou may also like... Best classical music See more Best classical music 10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life Discover Music The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide Discover Music The 15 most famous tunes in classical music Discover Music 21 of the greatest women composers in classical music Discover Music The 25 best pianists of all time Discover Music 15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know Discover Music About our adsYou may also like... Latest news See more Latest news Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol service: what music will there be, and who is performing? Christmas The Classic FM Puzzle Book – Relax: Mindful puzzles to relax and unwind Aled Jones sings ‘O Holy Night’ with star 12-year-old treble in Christmas duet Aled Jones Catherine, Princess of Wales is a former pianist with a solid grade 5 music theory Discover Music 10 stunning Christmas carols written by women composers Christmas ‘Good King Wenceslas’: what are the lyrics and real story behind the Christmas carol? Discover Music NATO soldiers sing Ukrainian ‘Carol of the Bells’ in show of Christmas solidarity Christmas Andrea Bocelli on singing with family at Christmas: ‘My voice is changing, every year it’s different’ Andrea Bocelli Pianist fights water pressure to play ‘Under the Sea’ beneath the waves Videos Andrea Bocelli sings from majestic Mont Blanc with his son and 10-year-old daughter Andrea Bocelli About our adsYou may also like... Latest videos See more Latest videos Dancing audience member goes viral conducting a highly animated ‘Sleigh Ride’ 21 days ago Videos Gaudete: What are the lyrics to the 16th-century Latin Christmas carol? 22 days ago Christmas The Very Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra: With 10 Musical Sounds! 29 days ago Kyiv children’s choir sings powerful ‘Carol of the Bells’ in New York Grand Central 1 month ago Videos Flute player performs haunting ‘Lord of the Rings’ melody in mile-long tunnel 1 month ago Discover Music Orchestra’s outer space Beethoven performance leaves legendary conductor in tears 1 month ago Seiji Ozawa Back to top Also on Classic FM Listen to Global Player Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM Google Doodle Quizzes Mozart Debussy Music theory Instruments Classic FM Live Brahms Vivaldi Bach LBC News Tchaikovsky Chopin Andrea Bocelli Florence Price Beethoven Best classical music Classic FM Requests Best pianists Harry Potter music Saturday Night at the Movies Star Wars soundtrack Composer or pasta Music for Studying Best violinists Classical music tearjerkers Relaxing classical Useful Links Contact Us Help How To Listen About Classic FM Company Details Cookies Privacy Terms & Conditions Advertise Global Jobs Download the app Follow Us Follow Classic FM on Twitter Follow Classic FM on Facebook Follow Classic FM on Instagram Follow Classic FM on Youtube © Global 2023 30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA Privacy Manager Close this adAbout our ads