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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
After temporary closures of Nashville restaurants following rumors of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) operations, Kid Rock has affirmed his support of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
After clarifying that he is not involved with daily operations at Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk and Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse in downtown Nashville, Kid Rock stated that he is behind President Trump’s policies on both illegal and legal immigration.
The bar is co-owned by Steve Smith, another outspoken supporter of President Trump, who also owns several other restaurants including Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, and The Diner.
Smith was a vocal opponent of Nashville governmental policies that kept businesses shuttered during the pandemic.
According to an employee at one of Smith’s restaurants, who spoke to local news media, managers instructed illegal aliens who worked in the kitchens to go home in order to avoid raids by immigration agents during the Saturday night rush on May 10th, 2025.
Once workers had fled Honky Tonk Central, The Diner, and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk and Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse the restaurants were left with no one in the kitchen to prepare food.
The employee told the Nashville Scene that understaffing was already a problem due to the recent ICE raids throughout the city.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol has conducted nearly six hundred traffic stops in partnership with ICE officers recently leading to the detention of nearly two hundred illegal aliens. These include convicted sex offenders, murderers, and members of foreign terrorist gangs like Tren de Aragua and others. Some of the worst offenders are listed here.
Roughly half who were arrested had prior criminal convictions and pending criminal charges. Thirty-one had re-entered the United States illegally after having been removed previously.
Nashville leadership has opposed the actions of the federal government to crack down on illegal immigration, with Mayor Freddie O’Connell going so far as to create a “Belonging Fund” which funnels taxpayer money to non-governmental organizations to help illegal aliens remain in the city.
Smith has yet to issue a statement on the closures of the immigration status of workers at his restaurants.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
