Bruce Springsteen lashes out at Trump, and the U.S. president responds with insults towards the singer

Bruce Springsteen, an icon of American rock, has begun his European tour Land of Hope and Dreams with a powerful political message from the stage in Manchester, England.

True to his style, "The Boss" did not limit himself to performing his classic repertoire; instead, he turned his first concert into a statement advocating for democracy, social justice, and the values that, according to him, are being threatened by the administration of Donald Trump.

As soon as he got on stage, the singer addressed his followers to warn them that his country is going through “dangerous times,” with a government he described as “corrupt, incompetent, and treacherous.”

In a speech filled with emotional intensity and social commitment, Springsteen called for the defense of democratic values and for raising voices against what he sees as an authoritarian shift in American politics.

“We are here tonight to invoke the rich powers of art, music, and rock and roll… in dangerous times,” stated Springsteen, amidst shadows, before starting the concert.

Defense of human rights and criticism of Trump's policies

During the show, Springsteen stopped several times to reflect on the situation in the United States under Trump's new administration.

He accused the government of undermining fundamental freedoms, attacking freedom of expression, deporting migrants without due process, and abandoning the country's international allies while supporting dictators.

"We are you and me. We are the last check on power when everything else has failed. The union of people around common values is the only thing standing between democracy and authoritarianism," the artist explained as he put on his signature harmonica.

It also denounced budget cuts in social programs, particularly those aimed at the most disadvantaged and educational institutions that do not align with the government's ideology.

"They are abandoning the world's poorest children to disease and death," he stated.

Despite the combative tone of his interventions, Springsteen did not fail to convey a message of hope to the European audience:

“We will survive this moment… I believe in the truth of what the great writer James Baldwin said: ‘In this world, there is not as much humanity as one would like, but there is enough. Let us pray,’” he concluded.

Trump's Reaction: Insults and Disparagements

Donald Trump's response was immediate. True to his style, the president launched an aggressive message published on his social media platform, Truth Social, in which he discredited the musician both personally and professionally.

“I see that the overrated Bruce Springsteen is going to a foreign country to speak ill of the President of the United States. I never liked him, I never liked his music or his radical left politics… He is not a talented guy. Just an arrogant and unpleasant jerk who fervently supported the corrupt Joe Biden,” wrote Trump.

The official went further in his disparagement, asserting that Springsteen is “dumb as a rock,” a “shriveled rocker with atrophied skin,” and suggested that he “keep his mouth shut until he returns to the U.S.”

He even ended with a veiled threat: "Then we will see what happens!".

A long-standing rivalry

The tensions between Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump are not new. Since Trump's first candidacy in 2016, the musician has been one of the most critical voices in the American artistic landscape.

On several occasions, he has demanded that the president stop using his iconic song Born in the USA at political events, and in 2017 he released the song That’s What Makes Us Great, specifically dedicated to criticizing the then-president, whom he referred to as a "fraud."

Frequently Asked Questions about Bruce Springsteen and His Critique of Donald Trump