US President Donald Trump escalated his war of words against celebrity critics on Friday, this time taking aim at legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen. In a scathing Truth Social post, Trump blasted Springsteen for making remarks abroad that were critical of the US president, accusing the musician of being unpatriotic and untalented.
“I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States,” Trump wrote. “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics… he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK.”
Trump, 78, accused Springsteen of blindly supporting President Joe Biden, whom he again referred to as “Crooked Joe” and “a mentally incompetent FOOL.” Trump also took jabs at Springsteen’s appearance, calling him a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker” and threatening that the artist “ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country.”
Taylor Swift also in Trump’s crosshairs
This latest post comes on the heels of another bizarre attack—this time on pop icon Taylor Swift. Trump claimed on Truth Social that the singer had lost her appeal after he publicly expressed his dislike for her. “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT’?” Trump posted Friday morning.
Once an admirer who called Swift “fantastic” and “terrific,” Trump’s tone shifted dramatically after the singer voiced support for Democrats and sharply criticised Trump and his running mate, Vice President JD Vance, ahead of the 2024 election.
Trump’s outbursts appear to be part of a broader strategy to rally his base by targeting left-leaning celebrities, whom he accuses of being out of touch with “real Americans.” The dual attacks on Swift and Springsteen signal a renewed focus on cultural grievances as Trump seeks to energise supporters during a politically turbulent period.
The posts were shared amid Trump’s overseas trip to the Middle East and ongoing frustrations with the US Supreme Court, which on Thursday heard arguments related to birthright citizenship.
As of Friday evening, neither Swift nor Springsteen had responded publicly to Trump’s comments.