Australian Politician demands Tenacious D’s deportation after controversial Trump joke

An Australian politician has called for the deportation of the comedy rock duo Tenacious D, comprised of Jack Black and Kyle Gass, following a controversial joke about former U.S. President Donald Trump. The incident occurred during a Tenacious D concert in Sydney on Sunday, where the band made a remark about an assassination attempt on Trump.

During the show, which was widely shared on social media, Jack Black presented a birthday cake to Kyle Gass with the help of a ‘robot.’ Before blowing out the candles, Gass made a comment saying, “Don’t miss Trump next time,” which was met with laughter and applause from the audience.

Senator Ralph Babet, leader of the United Australia Party, responded to the incident by calling for Tenacious D to be deported from Australia. Babet took to social media on Monday night to demand action from Australia's immigration minister, Andrew Giles, to revoke the band's visas. He argued that Gass' comment was not a joke and stated that anything less than deportation would be seen as endorsing the shooting and attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

Tenacious D still has four scheduled performances remaining on their Australian tour, including shows in Newcastle, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

Senator Babet has a history of opposing censorship. Earlier this year, he was involved in a political controversy for sharing graphic videos of a stabbing incident. The Australian government had ordered the removal of these videos from social media due to their violent nature, but Babet defiantly reposted the footage on his X (formerly Twitter) account, asserting that free speech was essential for the nation’s survival.

In this latest incident, Babet’s strong reaction to Tenacious D’s joke highlights the ongoing debate about free speech and the limits of acceptable humor in the public sphere. The situation also underscores the delicate nature of international performances and the potential repercussions artists may face when their content crosses cultural or political lines.