Jon Bon Jovi has openly clashed with Donald Trump in the past, with their most widely publicized confrontation unfolding during the high-stakes bidding process for the Buffalo Bills NFL franchise in 2014. What began as a competitive business pursuit quickly escalated into a full-blown public feud, marked by accusations, media jabs, and behind-the-scenes maneuvering that left a lasting rift between the rock icon and the real-estate mogul.
At the time, Bon Jovi joined a Toronto-based ownership group determined to acquire the Bills and keep the team in Buffalo. Their bid was serious, heavily financed, and broadly supported by many fans who believed Bon Jovi’s commitment to the city’s football culture was genuine. Trump, who was also pursuing the team, took a dramatically different approach — one that leaned heavily on public messaging, personal branding, and the perception of being the more “authentic” choice.
As the bidding intensified, reports surfaced alleging that a grassroots fan group, “Bills Fans for Keeping the Bills in Buffalo,” had been secretly encouraged or supported by Trump’s allies. The group spread fear that Bon Jovi intended to relocate the team to Toronto — a claim the singer repeatedly denied. The smear campaign became so aggressive that Bon Jovi himself later described it as orchestrated sabotage, saying he felt stunned by the lengths his rival went to undermine him.
Trump publicly mocked Bon Jovi’s bid, framing his own offer as the only one that would preserve the team’s place in Western New York. Ultimately, both men lost the auction to Terry and Kim Pegula, but the hostility lingered. Bon Jovi later called the ordeal “brutal,” while Trump continued to reference the fight in interviews and social media posts.
The Buffalo Bills saga cemented their rivalry, marking one of the most unusual celebrity-versus-businessman feuds in modern sports history.
