Did Kid Rock just deliver the wildest moment of the Republican convention?

By Kate Lahey and Helen Pitt

Updated July 19, 2024 — 2.25pm

On his way to the Republican National Convention, Kid Rock paused at the airport to post a message to fans, teasing the performance he was about to deliver: “Are you scared?”

Maybe? The Detroit musician’s warm-up act for presidential candidate Donald Trump was the kind of high-voltage, no-holds-barred rock/rap that Succession’s Kendall Roy must have only dreamt he could deliver.

In a move evoking Trump’s response to the assassination attempt he survived last weekend, Rock opened by telling the crowd to stand up: “I need everybody to put a fist up in the air!”

Kid Rock performs during the final day of the Republican National Convention.Credit: AP

Some obliged, most joined the chants of “Fight! Fight!” and “Trump! Trump!”. Very few seemed to know quite how to dance to the enthusiastic reworking of American Bad Ass from the musician’s 2000 album.

Kid Rock, who was dressed in black and wore a chunky metal crucifix necklace, was not the only celebrity to show up for Trump this week.

An hour or so before, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) dished out a string of wrestling analogies on stage, pointing to Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance and saying: “I see the greatest tag team of my life, standing upon us, getting ready to straighten this country out for all the real Americans.”

He whipped off his jacket, tore his top in half and described Trump, “that gladiator”, as his hero.

Not all the celebrities who lent support this week are long-time Trump fans. Amber Rose, a former Democrat and Hillary Clinton supporter, turned up to speak highly of Trump and his wife, Melania.

Rose, known for her pro-choice and pro-LGBTQ stance as founder of the SlutWalk movement, which is against rape culture and victim-blaming and in favour of gender equality, said she was inspired to become a Republican because of her father, a veteran.

“When I met the president and Melania for the first time, he was kind and generous and funny as hell,” Rose told the crowd.

Amber Rose attends a rehearsal at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 14.Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya

“When you go to the store and buy food for your family, you are shocked. When you fill up your gas tank, you are pissed. I know I am. And when you turn on the news you are just exhausted … and you know in your heart it was not like this under Donald Trump,” she said to rousing applause.

British comedian Russell Brand told fans on Instagram he would be at the convention all week, broadcasting his show live.

Brand has been accused by several women of rape and sexual assault in alleged incidents during the height of his fame, between 2006 and 2013. He has strongly denied the allegations. Scotland Yard launched an investigation into the claims. Brand has been interviewed but not charged.