Before Rod Stewart’s latest comment became the freshest subject of online debate, he was not the only major celebrity whose statements about Donald Trump had drawn attention.
In May 2025, well-known figures such as Bruce Springsteen and Robert De Niro had already triggered strong reactions online after openly criticizing Trump and his administration.
Springsteen’s criticism helped set the tone before Stewart’s own bold comment made headlines. On May 14, 2025, Springsteen spoke critically about Trump during a concert in Manchester, England, while opening his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour with the E Street Band.
During the show, Springsteen told the audience that the America he loved—the country he had written about for decades as a symbol of hope and freedom—was now, in his view, being led by a corrupt and dangerous administration. He also urged people who believed in democracy to raise their voices against authoritarianism and defend freedom.
His comments quickly spread online and sparked divided reactions. Some people criticized him for speaking against an American president while overseas, with a few even suggesting he should leave the country. Others defended him, praising him for using his platform and saying more artists should speak out.
Springsteen had previously supported Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 election, describing them as candidates who represented a more inclusive vision for the country. He also said he strongly opposed Trump and JD Vance, arguing that Trump’s attitude toward democracy, the Constitution, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power made him unfit for office.
Although Trump ultimately won the election, Springsteen has continued to speak publicly about his concerns, encouraging Americans to think seriously about the values that once united the nation.
Before Springsteen’s remarks drew major attention, Robert De Niro had also reignited political discussion with a speech at the Cannes Film Festival. On May 13, 2025, De Niro accepted an honorary Palme d’Or for lifetime achievement and used the moment to speak about politics as well as art.
While accepting the award, De Niro said that people in the United States were fighting to protect democracy. He connected the arts with democratic values, arguing that creativity and free expression are threatening to authoritarian figures.
He also criticized Trump’s role in cultural institutions and objected to policies affecting the arts, humanities, education, and film. De Niro said the issue was not only American but global, urging people who care about liberty to organize, protest peacefully, and vote when elections come.
As expected, his speech sparked mixed reactions online. Some viewers praised his courage and called the speech powerful, while others accused him of being disrespectful or out of touch. The divide reflected how politically charged celebrity comments about Trump had become.
Then Rod Stewart entered the conversation in a very different setting.
Unlike Springsteen at a concert or De Niro at a film festival, Stewart made his comment while greeting King Charles III at A King’s Trust 50th Anniversary Celebration at Royal Albert Hall in London on May 11, 2026. Stewart attended the event alongside fellow rock icon Ronnie Wood.
A video from the event showed Stewart shaking hands with King Charles while Wood stood nearby. At first, the interaction appeared formal and polite. Then Stewart made a bold comment praising the King for how he handled matters involving the Americas, before adding a sharp insult aimed at Trump.
The clip quickly circulated online because of the setting, the person Stewart was speaking to, and the casual way the moment happened. A longer version showed Stewart, King Charles, and Wood continuing their conversation afterward, which only made viewers more curious about the exchange.
Online reactions came quickly. Some people found Stewart’s remark funny, saying that at his age he could say whatever he wanted. Others felt the comment placed King Charles in an awkward position, especially because royal conversations are usually expected to remain diplomatic and restrained.
Some viewers also connected Stewart’s remark to Springsteen’s earlier criticism, suggesting that both musicians had become part of the same wider celebrity backlash against Trump.
In the end, Stewart’s words became viral not only because of what he said, but because of where he said it and who was standing in front of him. The image of Stewart smiling, Ronnie Wood standing nearby, and King Charles caught in the middle gave the moment the kind of visual drama that people online love to analyze frame by frame.
