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If you measure a man by his friends, Trump choosing Kid Rock over 'The Boss' says it all

Kid Rock Donald Trump oval office white house Bruce Springsteen performing
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images

Donald Trump, accompanied by entertainer Kid Rock, signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on March 31, 2025; Bruce Springsteen performs during the first night of his 'Land of Hopes and Dreams' tour at Co-op Live on May 14, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Opinion: ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ soars while ‘American Badass’ grinds like nails on a chalkboard inside a screeching subway car coming to an abrupt halt, writes John Casey.

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It’s one of the oldest “get to know you” questions there is: “What was your first concert?” For me, that was Bruce Springsteen at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, 40 years ago in the summer of 1985. The first thing I did after the show was to buy the cassette tape of the album Born in the U.S.A.

I took many runs to the title song, “Born in the U.S.A.,” and I never felt so energized or so American.

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In the realm of rock and roll, few figures embody the spirit of America like Springsteen. With a career spanning decades, "The Boss" has consistently championed the working class, delivering anthems that speak of the heartbeats, trials, and triumphs of everyday Americans.

Forty years ago, Pittsburgh was still considered a working-class city, and perhaps that’s why Springsteen’s concert was the largest ever held in the vaunted and long-ago demolished Three Rivers Stadium.

Anyone who has followed Springsteen over all these years knows his commitment to social justice and philanthropy. Coupled with his artistic talents, The Boss has solidified his status as a national treasure. That’s not hyperbole. He really is, and it's hard to think of another American-born rock star who has achieved the status of Springsteen.

Now, contrast all that Springsteen has done, said, and sung to the lamentable Kid Rock, who has devolved into a caricature of controversy, aligning himself with divisive rhetoric and actions that starkly oppose the inclusive values many Americans hold dear and that Springsteen speaks and sings about.

Worse yet, Kid Rock has wrapped himself in the false, fictional flag of MAGA, literally and figuratively. He’s become a sycophant to Donald Trump. While Springsteen has the well deserved pseudonym, The Boss, the MAGA musician — or motormouth — can suitably go by the moniker “Kid Rock Bottom.” And there are just so many, many ways he’s earning that nickname.

But if I can sidetrack for a minute and go back to Springsteen: Even putting Kid Rock Bottom in the same sentence as The Boss does a severe disservice to all of Springsteen’s impressive accomplishments.

They include 20 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and a Special Tony Award for Springsteen on Broadway. Beyond the stage, his longtime involvement with the Stand Up for Heroes benefit concert supporting veterans showcases a dedication to giving back. His music and actions consistently reflect a deep empathy with and understanding of the American experience.

Now, back to the sad sack. Kid Rock Bottom’s trajectory has been marred by a series of controversies. There was his display of the Confederate flag, which he defended until distancing himself in 2011. Then there were his vulgar tirades against public figures like Oprah Winfrey and Joy Behar.

And as we all know, Kid Rock Bottom is a vile homophobe. His use of homophobic slurs during performances and subsequent unapologetic stance further alienated him from many fans and communities.

Perhaps most telling is his involvement in the Bud Light boycott. After the beer brand partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Kid Rock Bottom posted a video of himself shooting cases of Bud Light with a machine gun while exclaiming profanities. Despite this dramatic display, reports later revealed that his Nashville bar continued to serve Bud Light, and he was even seen drinking it himself, highlighting a stark hypocrisy in his actions.

As for The Boss, he’s been an LGBTQ+ ally and champion for a long time.

Now, back to that restaurant! Kid Rock Bottom has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s brutal immigration policies, and his hypocrisy was laid bare last week. Amid rumors that Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids were imminent, managers of his Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse instructed undocumented staff to leave mid-service.

While he publicly endorses policies aimed at expelling undocumented immigrants, Kid Rock Bottom’s business appears to rely on their labor to function effectively.

At the same time, over the weekend, The Boss railed against Trump in England. Standing before a crowd of thousands, he declared that Trump is “running to be an American tyrant,” accusing him of undermining the Constitution and lacking a true understanding of the nation's values. Referring to the Trump administration, Springsteen said, “They are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent.”

Of course, the thin-skinned and deluded Trump responded like a spoiled child, saying among other insults in his Truth Social tirade, ““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.”

Springsteen is the antithesis of a jerk. His quiet philanthropy speaks volumes. His involvement in various charitable endeavors, including support for veterans and disaster relief efforts, underscores a genuine commitment to making a positive impact without seeking the spotlight. Further, his music often addresses social issues, offering commentary and solace, and reinforcing his role as a voice for unity and understanding.

The divergence between The Boss and Kid Rock Bottom becomes even more pronounced when considering their associations. Springsteen's collaborations and performances often aim to bridge divides and bring people together. That includes his work, with others, on ending hunger.

Kid Rock Bottom’s alliances, particularly his alignment with divisive political figures and rhetoric, does the opposite.

It’s easy to see that KId Rock Bottom’s career was in full reverse until Trump came along, so the pseudo rocker debased and humiliated himself to Trump and MAGA in a desperate move to jolt his career.

The contrast between the two is stark, and the implications of choosing one over the other are profound. Kid Rock Bottom looked like a fool dressed in goonish garb in the Oval Office recently. Meanwhile, The Boss looks like a hero taking on Trump over last weekend.

Finally, there’s absolutely no comparison when it comes to talent. Springsteen is a solid 10, while Kid Rock Bottom barely rates a 1.

All one needs to do is compare their songs. The soaring “Born in the U.S.A.” makes “American Bad Ass” sound like someone scraping their nails on a chalkboard as a roaring subway goes by, screeching its brakes.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

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John Casey

John Casey is senior editor of The Advocate, writing columns about political, societal, and topical issues with leading newsmakers of the day. The columns include interviews with Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, Colman Domingo, Jennifer Coolidge, Kelly Ripa and Mark Counselos, Jamie Lee Curtis, Shirley MacLaine, Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres, Bridget Everett, U.S. Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Jamie Raskin, Ro Khanna, Maxwell Frost, Sens. Chris Murphy and John Fetterman, and presidential cabinet members Leon Panetta, John Brennan, and many others. John spent 30 years working as a PR professional on Capitol Hill, Hollywood, the Nobel Prize-winning UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UN Envoy Mike Bloomberg, Nielsen, and as media relations director with four of the largest retailers in the U.S.
John Casey is senior editor of The Advocate, writing columns about political, societal, and topical issues with leading newsmakers of the day. The columns include interviews with Sam Altman, Mark Cuban, Colman Domingo, Jennifer Coolidge, Kelly Ripa and Mark Counselos, Jamie Lee Curtis, Shirley MacLaine, Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres, Bridget Everett, U.S. Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Jamie Raskin, Ro Khanna, Maxwell Frost, Sens. Chris Murphy and John Fetterman, and presidential cabinet members Leon Panetta, John Brennan, and many others. John spent 30 years working as a PR professional on Capitol Hill, Hollywood, the Nobel Prize-winning UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UN Envoy Mike Bloomberg, Nielsen, and as media relations director with four of the largest retailers in the U.S.