Bobby Pulido, a Grammy-nominated Tejano singer and emerging Texas Democrat, has become a focal point of political commentary due to his controversial 2016 act of defacing President Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The now-resurfaced incident, initially posted on Instagram with the caption, ‘when you gotta go, you gotta go,’ has sparked renewed scrutiny as Pulido launches his congressional campaign in South Texas. Despite his public stance as a bipartisan candidate, the incident underscores a pattern of provocative actions against Trump and Republicans, which has raised questions about his political alignment.
Pulido, best known for Tejano songs like ‘Desvelado’ and ‘Se Murió de Amor,’ has received five Latin Grammy nominations, winning Best Tejano Album in 2022 and 2025. He announced in 2024 his decision to forgo his music career in favor of a political career, aiming to represent South Texas in the U.S. House. His campaign for Texas’ 15th district pits him against Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a two-term Republican incumbent who won a 57.1% to 42.9% victory in 2024 over Democratic nominee Michelle Vallejo.
While Pulido has removed references to the Trump star defacement from his social media, the incident remains a contentious point in his campaign. His political ambitions have been heavily supported by Democratic operatives, who saw him as a key figure to mobilize South Texas voters, particularly among the Tejano community. However, his past actions, such as the ‘bloody Trump’ costume and inflammatory rhetoric, have drawn criticism from fellow Democrats. These incidents have sparked discussions about the boundaries of political activism and the role of public figures in shaping discourse.
Pulido’s campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission show he has raised $306,000 this cycle. His campaign team declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the incident with Trump’s Hollywood star, initially covered by Univision but later removed, can still be viewed through archived web pages. The episode, though controversial, reflects the broader debate around the intersection of art and politics, and the potential consequences of such actions in the context of modern electoral politics.