President Donald Trump was mocked as the "music critic in chief" after issuing an apparent threat against Bruce Springsteen and declaring that he'd ended Taylor Swift's popularity.
The president spent Friday morning posting on Truth Social on his way home from a trip to the Middle East, and he first claimed Swift was "no longer hot" after he declared his hatred for her and then lobbed insults against Springsteen and suggested he may face some type of punishment for his recent criticism.
"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,'" Trump posted. "Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!"
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Social media users ridiculed Trump as petty and questioned the wisdom of attacking the widely loved rock legend.
"The Music Critic in Chief has spoken," said writer Bruce Coffman, adding the eyeroll emoji.
"Threatening one of the most beloved living American musicians is an interesting strategy, let’s see how it plays out!" posted journalist Marisa Kabas. "Every old white guy on the Hill regardless of party f------ loves Springsteen and it’s gonna be funny to watch them lie about it."
"A lot going on here, but is Trump really going to talk about someone else's skin?" wrote reporter Justin Baragona.
"What is the word for when a nation's 'leader' threatens an artist to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT or there will be consequences when the artist tries to re-enter the country?" added immigration attorney Carol Anne Donohoe. "And, these days, does 'standard fare' mean Springsteen will be sent to CECOT?"
"This is not funny or Trump being Trump," said civil rights attorney Sherrily Ifill. "It’s menacing and an abuse of power."
"If this person sat next to you on a bus or train and started ranting about Bruce Springsteen in this way, you would get up and move to a different seat," posted journalist Mehdi Hasan. "In the United States, we have him the nuclear codes."
"Springsteen should hold a massive free concert in the Washington, DC, area on the day of Trump’s stupid birthday parade and we’ll see who draws more people," addedUSA Today columnist Rex Huppke.