Column | Why Trump suddenly hates Bruce Springsteen

What does Donald J. Trump, the big demolitioner, unprotected bag filler and Corruption-in-chiefand the creator of the Stramstest dance of all time (stiff with the hips rocking and turning with the fists) with rock ‘n’ roll?

A lot. Since his campaign in 2015, he has been upset with rockers who do not want him to use their work for his meetings. Neil Young threatened with the judge when Trump Stadiums continued to march in on his masters Rockin ‘In The Free World. Trump Young called a « complete hypocritical » And be fine that the singer had approached him earlier for an investment. And as far as that number is concerned: « I didn’t like it anyway. »

Now is Bruce Springsteen’s turn, a invalid democrat and supporter of Kamala Harris. ‘The Boss’ had been critically commented on Trump’s regime on stage in England: « Corrupt, incompetent and treacherous. » Well, only three chords – but all three hit.

From the White House followed this memorandum: « Never loved him or his music, not even from his radical-left views, » said the president of the most powerful country in the world. « He has no talent. Just a pushy, annoying jerk. » And, according to the leader of the executive power: « This dried out plum of a rocker – his skin is completely petrified! – just has to keep his head until he is back in the country. »

Bruce Did not hold his head – on which the man in the oval office threatened with an investigation into the musical contribution of Springsteen and other artists to the Harris campaign. That was « corrupt and illegal » of those entertainers. He put the last word in quotation marks – the grace of one Entertainer-in-chief.

Well. With world peace (« within 24 hours ») it doesn’t get along. So rather gilded deals to close to him mentioned towers (according to Bloomberg is Trump’s power doubled up to $ 5.4 billion). Or argue with a rock singer of course.

Does the riot matter? Yes, Bruce Springsteen Vecht for his idea from America, and that resonates. No, it will not put an end to the triumphal tour of Emperor Donald. But Trumps move to the singer of Born in the USA Again a lot about his egomania: Trump is an icon that does not tolerate competition from others.

And: he is a child of the seventies. Grew up with the crazy humor of Mad (See the video in which he supposedly Floors with a golf ball), the celebrity-Culture of Hollywood and rock music. Prominently present at Bob Dylans Thirty -year anniversary concert in New York in 1992. Again at the front of a concert by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in 2006, with Patti Smith and Salman Rushdie. Rolling Stone called him for an explanation: Neil was « a fantastic guy, » he said, who, by the way, regularly performed for him in his casinos (an alternative fact).

Also in a completely different way, Trump is in that era of anti-establishmentrebellie with one leg. He is compared to that earlier black sheep in American politics, George Wallace, the racist governor of Alabama who, as an independent candidate, gave the established parties the nerves – put an end to his campaign in 1972.

Just like Trump, Wallace, as a rabid defender of segregation, wanted to break the federal government: it should not interfere with how we (‘real’) Americans arrange our affairs. A notion of freedom that is simultaneously oppression -for others. Also rallies were folk festivals full of solemn patriotism and raw resentment.

Wallace was – implicitly – sung by Lynyrd Skynyrd in Sweet Home Alabamaa rock classic.

Difference: he didn’t make it president.

Sjoerd de Jong is editor of NRC. He writes a column every other week at this place.

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