Springsteen Torches Trump: The Boss Takes His Fiercest Stand Yet
In a moment when many artists choose carefully calibrated statements or diplomatic silence, Bruce Springsteen just threw down the gauntlet, as seen in the two clips in this article.
The Boss didn't just criticize Trump – he launched a blistering indictment that may well define this moment in American cultural history at his recent Manchester concert, kicking off his 2025 European tour.
"Corrupt, Incompetent, and Treasonous"
Those weren't the words of a political pundit or opposition candidate. Those were the words of one of America's most iconic musicians, delivered with the same raw intensity that has defined his half-century career.
Standing before thousands, Springsteen declared the America he loves – "a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years" – to be "in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration."
Here’s his full intro to “Land of Hopes and Dreams”
It’s great to be in Manchester and back in the U.K. Welcome to the Land of Hope & Dreams Tour! The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock ‘n’ roll in dangerous times.
In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.
Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!
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The Setlist Speaks
If you think the speech was powerful, consider the musical artillery Springsteen deployed. His selection of songs read like a carefully curated commentary on our current political moment:
"Death to My Hometown" - his searing indictment of corporate greed
"Rainmaker" - a cautionary tale about demagogues exploiting desperate people
"My Hometown" and "Youngstown" - chronicles of economic displacement that feel more relevant than ever
And in perhaps his most pointed musical statement, he closed not with his usual finale but with Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" – a deliberate choice that transforms the concert's end into a call for resistance.
"Some Very Weird, Strange, and Dangerous Shit"
Springsteen delivered, perhaps his harshest indictment of the Trump regime while introducing “My City of Ruins.”
There’s some very weird, strange and dangerous shit going on out there right now. In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now.
In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now.
In my country, they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers.
They’re rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society.
They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom. They are defunding American universities that won’t bow down to their ideological demands.
They are removing residents off American streets and, without due process of law, are deporting them to foreign detention centers and prisons. This is all happening now.
A majority of our elected representatives have failed to protect the American people from the abuses of an unfit president and a rogue government. They have no concern or idea for what it means to be deeply American.
The America l’ve sung to you about for 50 years is real and regardless of its faults is a great country with a great people. So we’ll survive this moment. Now, I have hope, because I believe in the truth of what the great American writer James Baldwin said. He said, “In this world, there isn’t as much humanity as one would like, but there’s enough.” Let’s pray.
The Boss’ decision to close with that Baldwin quote served as a perfect encapsulation of Springsteen's message – clear-eyed about our challenges but ultimately hopeful about our capacity to overcome them.
Looking Forward
As we hurtle toward another contentious election season, Springsteen's voice – both literally and figuratively – reminds us that artists have a crucial role to play in our national dialogue.
His renamed "Land of Hope and Dreams Tour" isn't just a concert series; it's a rolling referendum on America's soul.
The question isn't whether Springsteen should be making such statements. The question is: Are we listening to what The Boss is trying to tell us about the state of our democracy?
Because when Bruce Springsteen – the man who wrote "Born in the U.S.A." and has spent decades chronicling American life – tells us our democracy is in danger, maybe the flag-waving MAGA crowd should pay attention.
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There stands a true Patriot. I wish our elected officials had the same guts. There's a reason he's called the "Boss"?
He’s right! I wish more celebrities would speak out like this. I’m not into celebrity culture or idolatry but there is no denying they have a huge platform in comparison to the ordinary person. And much less to lose personally, people with immense wealth will be far more insulated than some of our most vulnerable. This is a good example using fame for good.