Singer Sir Rod Stewart and MAGA Republican President Donald Trump might seem like an odd pairing, but the two were once good friends, according to the Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
And they actually have several things in common.
The duo are of a similar age, with only one year difference between them. Both are half Scottish; Stewart's father Robert was from Leith Edinburgh while Trump's mother Mary was from the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
They also shared an affinity for models/actresses, with each man marrying three women with those credentials on her resume. Speaking to Radio Times to promote his Legends performance at the upcoming Glastonbury Music Festival, Stewart revealed they're also neighbors in Florida.
But they're no longer friends and can't be again for the foreseeable future.
Stewart said:
"I’m not a great fan of Trump. I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house. I live literally half a mile away."
"We’re both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that."
Stewart added:
"But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well."
"Since he became President, he became another guy. Somebody I didn’t know."
When asked about a possible reconciliation, Stewart responded:
"No, I can’t anymore. As long as he’s selling arms to the Israelis—and he still is. How’s that war ever gonna stop?"
After stating the UK also needed to stop arming Israel, Stewart stated:
"Someone's gotta do something. What [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is doing to the Palestinians is exactly what happened to the Jews."
"It’s annihilation, and that’s all he wants to do—get rid of them all."
"I don’t know how they sleep at night."
Back in 2016 when Stewart considered Trump a friend, he still didn't endorse his presidency.
According to The Daily Mail, Stewart said:
"Although he's sort of a friend of mine, I don't think he's presidential."
"I don't think he's made to be a President."
In 2020, Stewart's criticism became more pointed, telling the How to Wow podcast:
"That prick in the White House, pulling out of the Paris [climate] Accord is terrible."
"I think the good Lord's intent on wiping us all out because we've spoiled the Earth. We've spoiled it. I think it's too late to turn back now."
People were surprised Trump ever had friends.
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In February, Trump unveiled plans for the United States to relocate Palestinians to Jordan or Egypt so the U.S. could take over the Gaza strip to build resort hotels and casinos.
While Trump's plan didn’t specify it would be a real estate development run by the Trump Organization—paid for by U.S. taxpayers—the AI video posted on social media by official Trump accounts featured images and a soundtrack about "Trump Gaza."
In addition to the AI version of Trump, computer-generated versions of Netanyahu and Elon Musk also had cameos in the bizarre video.
In a February news conference alongside Netanyahu, Trump declared:
"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site."
"Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area."
"I envision world people living there. The world’s people. I think you’ll [sic] make that into an international, unbelievable place. I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable."
The plan wasn't well met.
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