Tenacious D Singer Admits Onstage Joke About Trump Assassination Attempt Was A Mistake

Kyle Gass, the less-famous half of the rock duo Tenacious D, admits that joking onstage about the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in 2024 was a bad idea.

The 65-year-old singer, whose bandmate is actor Jack Black, said he made a mistake, speaking in a newly published Rolling Stone interview tied to the promotion of his upcoming live album.

“It was terrible. It was terrible judgment, obviously,” he said of the incident, which happened in July 2024 shortly after an attempt on Trump’s life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. “I was naive, of course… I thought I was safe in the bubble.”

His controversial remarks came as Gass was presented with the opportunity to make a birthday wish while performing in Australia. He replied in front of the assembled crowd, “Don’t miss Trump next time.”

Gass says that he’s “felt terrible ever since, because it’s such a responsibility to not screw up like that.” He said he didn’t realize how bad things would get.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” he said of the aftermath. “It’s one of those things, once it was picked up, it just got worse and worse. It was a Defcon 2 for sure in the camp. And I did it. It was hard to take responsibility for it, but it was my f***-up. When you’re in it, it’s hard to even think straight. It’s just this thing flooding and coming at you. We had to take the break. And I got it. Jack has this magnificent career; I can’t even count the franchises now. So as hard as it was, I just had to take the long ride home.”

“I really wasn’t thinking straight through it,” Gass told Rolling Stone. “It is serious business. You never want to fan those flames or be snarky about it. And I touched the stove. But at the time, I was trying to make the band laugh. Trying to be a little outrageous. I wasn’t overthinking it — obviously.”

After the incident went viral, Black canceled the rest of the tour and distanced himself from his singing partner, saying he was “blindsided” by the remarks. But now Gass says he and Black have “hashed it out” and will reunite.