The president’s ire toward celebrity critics might seem trivial, but his willingness to use the power of the state to attack his critics matters.
`
Trump wants investigations into Springsteen, Beyonce, Oprah and Bono
THAT was on his mind this morning - instead of preparing for a critical call with Putin
No strategy or notes ... getting back at Bruce Springsteen was on the forefront of his addled brain!
🤬
www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
— Sabrina McDaniel 🌊💙 (@sabrina-mcdaniel.bsky.social) 2025-05-19T18:40:48.580Z
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-wants-investigations-springsteen-beyonce-oprah-bono-rcna207723
But shortly before the Republican’s sensitive discussion with his counterpart in Moscow got underway, he decided to let the world know what else was on his mind. HuffPost reported:
President Donald Trump on Monday launched a new attack on rock legend Bruce Springsteen along with several other major celebrities during a middle-of-the-night rant on his Truth Social website. ... He also attacked Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey and Bono, claiming without evidence they were all paid to endorse Harris during last year’s presidential election.
The first sign of trouble came last week, while Trump was still in the midst of a Middle East trip, when
the president set aside some time to whine about Springsteen while simultaneously suggesting that Taylor Swift is no longer “hot,” thanks entirely to his criticisms of the pop star......
To the extent that reality still has any meaning in situations like this
, let’s just briefly note that there’s literally no evidence of Harris or her campaign paying anyone for endorsements; there was nothing “unlawful” or “corrupt” about the support the then-Democratic nominee received from celebrities during the 2024 campaign; Beyoncé did not face “loud booing” after she endorsed Harris; and there’s nothing “illegal” about public figures publicly backing a presidential candidate.
It’s also probably worth mentioning in passing that Trump’s hysterical online communications don’t do any favors to his “very stable genius” description of himself.
But of particular interest was the president’s interest in
“a major investigation into this matter.”
All things considered, there’s no reason to get too worked up about every Trump tantrum, his rage toward celebrities who’ve dared to criticize him, his weird approach to pop culture, or
his use of the word “illegal” as a synonym for “stuff I don’t like.” What I do care about, however, is the president’s willingness to use the power of the state to pursue critics in authoritarian-style fashion.
This is especially true now with
the Justice Department led by an attorney general who apparently sees herself as an extension of the White House and its political agenda — which raises the prospect of a federal investigator actually initiating a probe into celebrities that Trump doesn’t like.
= new reply since forum marked as read