In mid-May 2025, a rumor was circulating online that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, "It's illegal to call yourself the boss if you're not in charge of the entire country," referencing Bruce Springsteen, whose nickname is The Boss.
For example, one Facebook user posted an image in May 2025 (archived), allegedly taken from a Fox News report, where the chyron read: "Bondi: 'It's illegal to call yourself 'The Boss' if you're not in charge of the entire country.'"
Variations of the rumor also appeared on X (archived) and Threads (archived).
(Facebook user Al Wright)
Some readers seemed to take the image at face value. However, results from numerous search engines produced no evidence that Bondi said the alleged quote in relation to Springsteen (archived) (archived) (archived) (archived).
Rather, the rumor originated (archived) from the Facebook page of James Schlarmann, who also goes by the username @JamboSchlarmbo that appeared on the circulating image.
Schlarmann's account describes its output as satirical in nature. The About section on his Facebook account reads: "Satirist. Comedian." Schlarmann also commented on his post of Bondi's fake quote, saying: "I write jokes guys please remember to temper your outrage with that."
Additionally, a Fox News spokesperson said via email: "This graphic is fake and did not originate or air on FOX News Channel."
The fictional story spread as U.S. President Donald Trump and Springsteen traded verbal blows on international stages and on Truth Social. During a concert in Manchester in the U.K. on May 15, 2025, Springsteen reportedly called the Trump administration "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous."
In return, Trump posted on Truth Social on May 16 that Springsteen was a "dried out 'prune' of a rocker" and told him to "KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country," adding: "Then we'll all see how it goes for him!"
Since that post, Trump has called for an investigation into artists, including Springsteen, who appeared alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign.
Though the Bondi quote was fake, the image Schlarmann used of her was real. Bondi wore an identical outfit on April 16, 2025, when she announced that the Trump administration would file a lawsuit against the state of Maine, accusing the state of refusing to ban transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. Republican Rep. Laurel Libby and podcaster and former swimmer Riley Gaines stood behind Bondi in the April 16 video. Those same women also stood behind Bondi in the image Schlarmann used, indicating that it came from the same event.
Fox News did report on this announcement. Notably, the authentic Fox News chyron featured more details than Schlarmann's image, including a "Breaking News" graphic and a box with Bondi's name. The authentic report also used a different font to what Schlarmann used in his altered image.
Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims about Springsteen in the past, including the assertion that the singer lost an advertising contract with Jeep after criticizing the U.S. president and a rumor that he would leave the country after Trump's reelection.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.