Newsom fires back at Trump, calls Kid Rock a ‘dried-up prune’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hours after Donald Trump criticized Bruce Springsteen on social media, California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded with a post targeting Trump supporter and singer Kid Rock.
Newsom targets Kid Rock following Trump’s Springsteen post
Newsom, often critical of Trump’s uneven writing style, random capitalization, and tone, mirrored the structure and style of the former president’s post. Both used a similar sentence pattern but focused on different subjects.
“Bad, and very boring singer, Kid Rock, who looks like a dried-up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon, has long had a horrible and incurable case of Newsom Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as NDS,” Newsom wrote on the official press office X account.
“The guy is a total loser who spews hate against a governor who won three landslide elections, including the popular vote, flipped red to blue, and 80% of counties during the MAGA recall. Dems should boycott his overpriced concerts, which suck. Save your hard-earned money. California is back! — Governor GCN"
BAD, AND VERY BORING SINGER, KID ROCK, WHO LOOKS LIKE A DRIED UP PRUNE WHO HAS SUFFERED GREATLY FROM THE WORK OF A REALLY BAD PLASTIC SURGEON, HAS LONG HAD A HORRIBLE AND INCURABLE CASE OF NEWSOM DERANGEMENT SYNDROME, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS NDS. THE GUY IS A TOTAL LOSER WHO…
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) April 2, 2026
Trump criticizes Springsteen and the former administration
Trump had earlier posted in nearly identical language about Springsteen,“Bad and very boring singer, Bruce Springsteen, who looks like a dried-up prune… has long had a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TDS,” he wrote.
Trump added, “Under Sleepy Joe and the Dems, our country was dead, and now we have the ‘hottest’ country, by far, anywhere in the world. MAGA should boycott his overpriced concerts. Save your hard-earned money. America is back!!!”
Both leaders encouraged their supporters to skip the respective artists’ shows. While Trump targeted Springsteen, Newsom urged Democrats to boycott Kid Rock.
Newsom previously banned Kid Rock in California
Earlier this year, Newsom used a similar post format to announce that Kid Rock banned in California after the singer collaborated with RFK Jr.
This is a level of respect that shit for brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her. 🇺🇸 🙏 pic.twitter.com/iD5mmkaXv1
— KidRock (@KidRock) March 28, 2026
Kid Rock sparked controversy in late March after sharing a video saluting army helicopters near his Nashville property, criticizing Newsom in the process. “This is a level of respect that shit-for-brains Governor of California will never know. God Bless America and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her,” he captioned the clip.
The exchange highlights the growing trend of political figures using social media to engage in cultural and political disputes, keeping personal attacks front and center.