A viral rumor falsely attributing a quote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has taken social media by storm, claiming she criticized rock legend Bruce Springsteen over his famous nickname, “The Boss.” The fabricated quote read: “It’s illegal to call yourself ‘The Boss’ if you’re not in charge of the entire country.”
The quote gained traction after an image circulated showing what appeared to be a Fox News chyron displaying the supposed statement during a news segment. However, a thorough search across multiple credible sources has confirmed that Bondi never made such a remark.
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The origin of the quote traces back to satirist James Schlarmann, better known by his online handle @JamboSchlarmbo. A prolific creator of political satire, Schlarmann is known for crafting humorous fake news intended to spark reactions from both political sides. The viral image was another of his jokes that many users mistook for reality.
“I write jokes guys please remember to temper your outrage with that,” Schlarmann later clarified in the comments section of his post. Despite the comedic intent, the image was convincing enough to mislead a significant number of viewers. Fox News was quick to respond to the confusion. In a statement to Snopes, a network spokesperson confirmed: “This graphic is fake and did not originate or air on FOX News Channel.”
The doctored image was based on a real photo of Bondi taken at an April 16 press conference. During that event, she announced legal action against the state of Maine over its transgender athlete policies. Also present were Republican Rep. Laurel Libby and conservative activist Riley Gaines. While Fox News did cover the press conference, no mention of Springsteen or the quote was made.
Eagle-eyed observers eventually pointed out several inconsistencies. The font and design of the chyron did not match Fox News’ standard graphics. Additionally, the banner and text layout differed from genuine Fox broadcasts.
While Bondi wasn’t targeting Springsteen, President Donald Trump certainly was. During a May 15 concert in Manchester, UK, Springsteen openly criticized the Trump administration.
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“In my home, the America I love… is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration,” Springsteen told the audience, calling on fans to “raise your voices against authoritarianism.”
The following day, Trump lashed out on Truth Social, labeling Springsteen a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker,” attacking both his appearance and political views. Trump also dismissed Springsteen’s music and accused him of disrespecting America while abroad.
Despite the satire and heated rhetoric, the fabricated quote serves as a reminder to scrutinize viral content before sharing — especially in an era where satire can easily be mistaken for fact.
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