Kid Rock electrified the Republican National Convention crowd with his performance, getting them on their feet and chanting “Fight! Fight! Fight!” in support of former President and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The singer and rapper belted out his 2000 hit American Bad Ass, tweaking the lyrics to align with the current election, leading the audience in roaring “Trump! Trump! Trump!” instead of the original “Hey! Hey! Hey!”
Kid Rock also made references to critical election battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Arizona, adjusting the song’s locations.
“Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for the most patriotic and fierce leader on earth, President Donald J. Trump,” Kid Rock announced before exiting the stage and introducing Dana White.
The conservative artist affectionately dubbed Trump as one of his “besties” in a Rolling Stone interview earlier this year.
Kid Rock strongly condemned the recent assassination attempt on the former president during a rally in Butler by stating, “You mess with Trump, you mess with me,” in a video shared shirtless.
During Trump’s speech at the Butler rally, loud popping sounds rang out, causing panic and a momentary security scare. Trump seemed to clutch his ear and stumbled momentarily before regaining composure, surrounded by Secret Service agents and with blood visible on his face.
“We narrowly averted one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history,” remarked Trump Jr. at the RNC on Night 3. “My father’s response…was not to back down or retreat, but to demonstrate to the world the unyielding resolve of the next President of America.”
The incident is formally under investigation as an attempted assassination. A poster featuring the alleged assailant, Thomas Crooks, was sighted outside the RNC in Milwaukee recently.
Over the last decade, Kid Rock’s profile has become increasingly divisive. He has aligned himself closely with Trump, making public predictions about Trump’s electoral successes, engaging in discussions about “DEI crap,” and embracing all things MAGA.
The musician, born Robert Richie, has reshaped his concerts to resemble Trump rallies, featuring the former President prominently on screens with messages like, “This is your president now, so get used to it!” according to sources.
Kid Rock has acknowledged the risks of openly supporting Trump, stating in the Rolling Stone interview, “I knew that doubling down on it could have spelled the end of my career, but I was wagering that there are many like-minded individuals out there.”