Trump Ramps Up Attacks On Harris-Supporting Musicians

President Donald Trump is escalating his attacks on musicians and other entertainers who supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

The Republican’s opening salvo came May 16 as he returned from his trip to the Middle East.

“I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy − Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country.”

Trump regularly used Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A.” during campaign rallies.

Springsteen has been regularly criticizing Trump on stage during his recent performances.

“In my home, the America I love-the America I’ve written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years—is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration,” Springsteen told the crowd at Manchester’s Co-op Live May 14. “Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring. This is ‘Land of Hope and Dreams.'”

Springsteen has continued in a similar vein in follow-up performances.

After the anti-Springsteen post, Trump also wrote “”Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?'”.

Trump posted “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT” in September 2024. After the post, Swift wrapped the “Eras” tour with 18 sold-out shows in the U.S. and Canada. The “Eras” tour grossed $2.2 billion, according to Pollstar Boxoffice estimates.

After those posts, the American Federation of Musicians issued a statement defending the two stars (and AFM members).

“The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada will not remain silent as two of our members—Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift—are singled out and personally attacked by the President of the United States. Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift are not just brilliant musicians, they are role models and inspirations to millions of people in the United States and across the world. Whether it’s ‘Born in the USA’ or the Eras Tour, their music is timeless, impactful, and has deep cultural meaning. Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members,” the union wrote.

At 1:34 AM Monday, as he prepared for a high-stakes call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump once again took to Truth Social to call for investigations into Springsteen, Beyoncé, Bono and Oprah Winfrey for their support of Harris and performances and appearances at campaign rallies, though Bono did not appear at any Harris events.

“HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT?,” he wrote. “WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS? ISN’T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION? WHAT ABOUT BEYONCÉ? …AND HOW MUCH WENT TO OPRAH, AND BONO??? “I am going to call for a major investigation into this matter. Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment.”

As the New York Times reported weeks after the election, Democratic strategists were questioning the wisdom of spending campaign funds on big-ticket, big-star events (particularly since Harris lost every swing state). Winfrey hosted a town hall with Harris that reportedly cost $1 million, while Lady Gaga, Jon Bon Jovi and Katy Perry, among others, appeared at swing-state rallies.

Springsteen performed at an Oct. 28 rally in Philadelphia and Beyoncé spoke at a Houston rally three days before that.

Trump is correct in saying that endorsements cannot be exchanged for payment, and the Harris campaign says it did not pay any artist or performer. And indeed, federal election prohibits it. However, election finance law requires that campaigns pay the ancillary costs of performances — staffing, staging, lighting and so forth — because if those services were provided for free, it would qualify as an in-kind contribution.

Harris’ filings show the campaign paid Springsteen’s Thrill Hill Productions $75,000 for “travel and event productions.” Winfrey’s Harpo Productions was paid for sets, lights, cameras, microphones, crew and production during the town hall. Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment was paid $165,000.