Jason Aldean Cancel New York Tour: Donald Trump’s hopes for reelection suffered a significant setback last week with a judge’s ruling that his trial concerning “hush money” payments will commence on March 25 in New York. This decision is said to have reverberated across the entertainment industry in the state.
Justice Juan Merchan made the ruling on Thursday morning, affirming that the former president’s trial will proceed as planned in March. Trump’s requests for postponements and dismissal were dismissed by the court.
The trial revolves around allegations concerning Trump’s purported affair with former adult film star Stormy Daniels and efforts to conceal a financial transaction prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Daniels claims she engaged in a relationship with Trump in 2006, just a year after his marriage to Melania Trump. These allegations have triggered significant repercussions for the once-prominent real estate tycoon.
Trump stands accused of orchestrating a payment of $130,000 through his former attorney Michael Cohen to silence Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The Republican vehemently denies any wrongdoing, portraying the trial as a politically motivated witch hunt designed to sabotage his presidential aspirations.
With Trump facing a staggering 34 felony charges, the trial is anticipated to span six weeks, as indicated by Merchan. If convicted, Trump could potentially enter the November election as a felon—a historic first in U.S. presidential elections.
On Friday, Judge Arthur Engoron, overseeing New York Attorney General Letitia James’ civil fraud case against Trump, issued a ruling ordering the former president to pay $355 million in penalties. This penalty stemmed from Trump’s alleged scheme to inflate his asset values to secure better terms from banks and insurers.
Additionally, the Democratic judge barred Trump from holding any officer or director positions in New York companies for three years, with similar restrictions placed on his sons Eric and Donald Jr. for two years.
The hefty fine, despite Trump’s considerable wealth, adds to his financial woes, especially considering his recent $83.3 million defamation loss against writer Jean E. Carroll. This defamation case originated from Trump’s denial of rape allegations and his accusations against Carroll as a political operative.
While Trump’s immediate payment of the fine is not required pending an appeal process, he may ultimately be compelled to pay. Trump condemned the judge’s decision, branding him as “crooked” and alleging political bias. As in previous cases, Trump maintains his innocence.
Regarding social media claims, posts circulated suggesting that musicians Kid Rock and Jason Aldean, both known Trump supporters, canceled shows in New York in protest. One post on X shared a screenshot of a headline reading: “Kid Rock and Jason Aldean Cancel New York Tour from the ‘You Can’t Cancel America’ Tour: ‘We Support 45.'”
Accompanying the screenshot, @WUTangKids captioned: “I’m sure the parking lot these two losers had lined up somewhere upstate NY will be devastated because no way in hell they were playing anywhere in NYC.”
Amidst a flurry of mocking remarks, conservative activist and author Brigitte Gabriel stood alongside numerous social media users in expressing support for the reported decision.
“Kid Rock and Jason Aldean have taken action against New York’s aggressive stance toward President Trump by excluding the state from their ‘You Can’t Cancel America Tour,'” Gabriel announced on X earlier today. “This marks a significant development and reflects the resurgence of the silent majority!”
The assertion gained traction on Reddit, where numerous users shared their reactions and contributed to the conversation.
Newsweek traced the originating headline from X back to The Dunning-Kruger Times website. The article claimed that a statement was posted on the tour’s website, indicating, “We support 45, therefore, we won’t be bringing the tour to the state that has treated him so poorly.
The tour, purportedly scheduled for over a dozen dates in New York, was portrayed as an economic boon for local communities and an opportunity for conservative Americans to enjoy a night out. A quote attributed to the president of the Kid Rock Fan Club expressed disappointment over the cancellation of a planned event.
Fact Check:
Jason Aldean does not have a tour titled “You Can’t Cancel America.” His upcoming tour, “Rock the Country,” in collaboration with Kid Rock, is set to visit several small towns across the U.S. Following this tour, Aldean will continue with his “Highway Desperado” shows, which began last year. The itinerary for these shows includes four stops in New York.
The Dunning-Kruger Times, the source of the article, describes itself as satirical on its “about us” page. It clarifies that all content on the website is fictional and should not be mistaken for real news.
The website’s name seems to derive from the psychological concept known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, which describes individuals’ tendency to overestimate their abilities despite lacking knowledge or competence.
In internet culture, the term is often used to highlight the overconfidence of individuals with limited understanding.
Newsweek has reached out to representatives of Jason Aldean and Kid Rock for comment via email.
The assertion that Aldean and Kid Rock were planning a tour named “You Can’t Cancel America” lacks substantiation. Aldean’s Highway Desperado tour includes dates in New York, contradicting allegations of a boycott over Trump’s ruling.
These claims stem from a website openly labeling its content as satirical. Another article mentioned the fictitious tour, asserting it outperformed Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in sales. However, Reuters fact-checked and confirmed the article’s origin on a satirical platform.
Fact-checked by Newsweek.