Bruce Springsteen strongly criticized the Trump administration during the opening night of his U.K. tour, accusing it of authoritarianism, undermining civil rights, and engaging in unlawful deportations.
The 75-year-old musician, a vocal liberal supporter of Democratic presidential candidates, including Vice President Kamala Harris, made his remarks in Manchester, England, on Wednesday, the first night of his “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour.
“The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call on the righteous power of art, music, and rock ‘n’ roll in these dangerous times,” Springsteen said to loud cheers from the crowd. “In my homeland, the America I’ve written about, the America that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is now in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.”
He urged those who value democracy to “raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!” before launching into the performance. Later, Springsteen elaborated on what he saw unfolding in the U.S. under President Donald Trump.
“They’re persecuting people for exercising their right to free speech and expressing dissent,” Springsteen remarked, a transcript and video of which were later shared on his website and YouTube.
The musician went on to accuse the Trump administration of “abandoning the world’s most vulnerable children to sickness and death” and “taking cruel pleasure in the pain inflicted on loyal American workers.”
“They’re rolling back key civil rights legislation that has historically made our society more just and diverse,” he continued. “They’re abandoning our cherished allies and aligning with dictators, turning their back on those fighting for freedom.”
Springsteen also decried the administration’s actions against American universities that refuse to comply with its ideological demands and its practice of deporting residents without due process. He criticized elected officials for failing to defend Americans from the “abuses of an unfit president and a rogue government.”
Despite his harsh words, Springsteen expressed optimism, saying, “The America I’ve sung about for 50 years is real. It has its flaws, but it’s a great country with a great people. So we’ll survive this moment.”
In response, the White House issued a statement that read, “The 77 million Americans who voted for President Trump disagree with elitist and out-of-touch celebrities like Bruce Springsteen. Bruce is welcome to stay overseas while hardworking Americans enjoy a secure border and falling inflation thanks to President Trump.”
This isn’t the first time Springsteen has publicly criticized Trump. Ahead of the 2016 election, he called Trump “a flagrant toxic narcissist.”
Known for his albums that both celebrate and critique American values, Springsteen’s 1984 album Born in the U.S.A. notably criticized the Vietnam War and the treatment of American veterans. He’s also preparing to debut 83 previously unreleased songs in late June, 74 of which have never been heard by the public.
