American rock star Bruce Springsteen and The E Street band perform during a concert on their European tour at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain, April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Albert Gea
Donald Trump administration staffers who are fans of Bruce Springsteen are facing a dilemma as the legendary rock star continues his “No Kings Tour” — stay home and avoid the wrath of the president or attend a show and hope they are not seen and possibly lose their job.
According to NOTUS, Republican operatives connected to the administration are privately expressing terror about the consequences of attending Springsteen's performances. "Can't piss off Trump," one Republican operative said, declining to go on the record. Another admitted, "I don't think it would be a good look for me personally in my career."
Doug Heye, a prominent GOP consultant and self-described huge fan of Springsteen said, "We're watching Donald Trump on a revenge tour, and as incredible as it sounds, it is not out of the realm of possibility that somebody could be spotted at this concert and be told they don't need to show up for work on Monday."
Springsteen's current "Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour" — unofficially known as the "No Kings Tour" — represents his most defiant political statement in decades, NOTUS reported. At 76, he opens and closes his three-hour setlists with protest anthems "War" and "Chimes of Freedom."
Meanwhile, Trump has escalated his long-standing feud with Springsteen, calling him a "dried up prune" with "a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome." Last week, Springsteen appeared on what turned out to be the next-to-last episode of "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." Colbert was booted by CBS — allegedly because, as Springsteen noted, "Trump can't take a joke."
According to the report, Republican fans have struggled to openly support the tour since Springsteen announced it in February. None of the three GOP lawmakers representing New Jersey in Congress responded to requests for comment about attending shows. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — the most famous Republican Springsteen fan, having attended 180 concerts — also declined to comment, as did White House spokespeople.
As Springsteen's Washington D.C. show at Nationals Park drew closer, some Republican administration fans jokingly called themselves "closeted" Springsteen supporters, fearful that any mention of their attendance would trigger White House retaliation.