Kyle Gass of Tenacious D has said his onstage quip about Donald Trump’s attempted assassination was a “terrible mistake,” and said he and bandmate Jack Black have since resolved the dispute and expect to perform together again.
Kyle Gass, one half of the comedy-rock duo Tenacious D alongside actor and musician Jack Black, has expressed regret over a joke he made onstage in Australia shortly after the July 2024 shooting at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
In an interview with Rolling Stone reported by multiple outlets, Gass said the remark reflected “terrible judgment” and that he has “felt terrible” since making it. The comment came during a Tenacious D performance in Sydney on July 14, 2024—Gass’ birthday—when Black prompted him to make a wish before blowing out candles. Gass replied: “Don’t miss Trump next time,” a line that spread quickly online and drew backlash.
Gass told Rolling Stone that being overseas contributed to a sense of distance from the seriousness of the event, and he described believing he was “safe in the bubble.” He also said he struggled with the fallout and responsibility for the remark, calling it his “f---up.”
In the days after the concert, Black publicly condemned political violence and said he was “blindsided” by Gass’ comment, announcing the cancellation of the remaining Tenacious D tour dates and that the band’s future creative plans would be put on hold. Gass issued a public apology at the time, calling the improvised line “highly inappropriate, dangerous and a terrible mistake,” though he later deleted the post.
More than a year later, Gass said he and Black have “hashed it out” and remain on good terms, describing their partnership as akin to a marriage with ups and downs. He said Tenacious D intends to return to the stage, though neither musician announced specific dates for a reunion.
Trump was shot and wounded at a campaign rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024; the gunfire also killed one attendee and left others wounded. The shooter was killed at the scene.
