Springsteen Speaks Out in Manchester

During the Manchester stop of his Land of Hope & Dreams Tour on May 14, 2025, Bruce Springsteen didn’t hold back. The rock legend took a moment before performing “Land of Hope and Dreams,” “House of a Thousand Guitars,” and “My City of Ruins” to address the political state of his home country.

Bold Words on a Global Stage

Springsteen called the U.S. a “beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years,” now under what he described as a “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.” He urged Americans who cherish democracy to rise up, reject authoritarianism, and let freedom reign.

He sat on stage and stated that Americans face persecution for expressing their opinions. According to him, their voices are being silenced.

Condemning the Powerful

Next, Springsteen went after the ultra-wealthy, accusing them of abandoning the world’s poorest children to “sickness and death.” He claimed some elites take “sadistic pleasure” in harming loyal American workers.

He didn’t stop there. Springsteen slammed the government for rolling back civil rights laws, isolating allies, and cozying up to dictators.

Education and Detention Woes
Springsteen criticized the administration for cutting funding to universities that reject its ideology. He claimed Americans are being shipped to “foreign detention centers” without due process.

Broken Leadership
The singer blamed elected officials for failing to protect the country from “an unfit president and a rogue government.” Still, he expressed faith in the goodness of the American people.

He quoted author James Baldwin: “In this world there isn’t as much humanity as one would like, but there is enough.”

Trump Fires Back
Once the remarks spread, President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social. He wrote, “Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States.”

Trump added that he never liked Springsteen, his music, or his “Radical Left Politics.” He dismissed him as a “pushy, obnoxious JERK” who backed “Crooked Joe Biden.”

More Harsh Criticism
Trump didn’t hold back. He claimed Springsteen had no talent and called him “dumb as a rock.” He criticized Springsteen’s looks, calling him a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker.” Trump even warned him to stay quiet until returning to the U.S.

Supporters Stand By Him
Not all responses were negative. One fan wrote, “Amazing words – thank you, Bruce!” Another added, “I love Bruce and his heartfelt rants. I wish more artists would speak up.”

His Political Stance
Before the 2024 election, Springsteen backed Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, calling them the best hope for guiding the country. He firmly opposed Trump and JD Vance.

Springsteen said the U.S. hadn’t been this divided since the Civil War. Still, he believed in the power of unity and shared values to bring Americans back together.

A Call to Action
Springsteen believes rebuilding America requires effort, intelligence, and moral leadership. He emphasized that the country’s true strength lies not in weapons or wealth but in freedom, justice, and opportunity for all.

No Apologies
He labeled Trump as the “most dangerous presidential candidate” of his lifetime. Springsteen condemned Trump’s disregard for the Constitution, the rule of law, and peaceful power transfer.

The Vision He Supports
Springsteen praised Harris and Walz for embracing a vision of inclusion—regardless of class, religion, race, or political view. He believes they want to grow the economy for everyone, not just the wealthy.

He concluded by saying every American has a right to their own stance—but his vote would go to Harris and Walz.

Moving Forward
Although Trump won the election, Springsteen hasn’t stayed silent. He continues speaking out, urging Americans to defend the values that once united the nation.