Springsteen, Trump, Kid Rock trade political barbs
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Bruce Springsteen’s songs have chronicled the working American’s hopes and dreams for 50 years.
In that time, The Boss’ political bent has never been buried.
Sure, some Reaganites may have misunderstood “Born in the U.S.A” as a patriotic anthem, but “American Skin (41 Shots)” clearly details the fears some have about potential police violence.
When Springsteen kicked off his European tour this week in Manchester, England, he made it explicitly clear that he thinks Donald J. Trump is an “unfit president” and the Trump administration is a “rogue government.”
Springsteen, 75, a native of Freehold, N.J., is a contemporary of Trump, the 79-year-old Queens native.
They have more than age in common, as Springsteen has sung about the “Glory Days” as Trump has waxed about the Gilded Age and a Trump rally may be the political equivalent of a Springsteen show, through The Boss, it seems, has never covered the Village People hit “Y.M.C.A.” that’s the closing anthem of Trump rallies.
Springsteen has never been secretive about his politics.
Trump didn’t take The Boss’ critique constructively.
“This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare’ Then we’ll see how it goes for him!” Trump posted on social media.
Bruce Springsteen is washed! pic.twitter.com/Igt2Nd6t0I
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) May 16, 2025
Fox News host Jesse Watters and Kid Rock also decried The Boss.
.@KidRock: @Springsteen is so desperate to keep his good standing in the eyes of the Hollywood elite, but plays this working-class guy."His politics are ass backwards." pic.twitter.com/NNl36eFVWh
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) May 16, 2025
“This guy’s got, what, 500 million, a billion dollars… and is out there playing like he’s a working-class hero. And really, to me, just wants to be… in good standings with the Hollywood elite… and I’m proud to say that I’m more of Hollywood’s kryptonite,” Kid Rock, a spry 54-year old from Romeo, Mich., told Fox.
When it comes to heartland rock and roll, “Bruce Springsteen’s made some good songs, I’ll give him that. Bob Seger smokes him any day of the week,” Rock said.