Bruce Springsteen faced backlash after delivering a series of political remarks during a concert in Minneapolis, with some going so far as to accusing him of betraying the country. During the opening night of his “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour” on Tuesday, Springsteen paused multiple times to address the crowd with pointed commentary on current events.
In one segment, he warned, “We are living through some very dark times,” according to Variety. “Our American values that have sustained us for 250 years are being challenged as never before. We’ve got our young men and women’s lives at risk in an unconstitutional and illegal war. This is happening now.”
He continued by raising concerns about immigration enforcement, saying, “There are immigrants being held in detention centers around the country and being deported without due process of law to alien countries and foreign gulags. This is happening now.”
After also criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department, Springsteen turned his attention to the administration of Donald Trump.
“While working Americans struggle, our president and his family enrich themselves by billions of dollars trading on the people’s office in corruption unmatched in American history. This is happening now,” Springsteen said. “This White House is destroying the American idea and our reputation around the world,” he added.
“To many, we are no longer looked upon as an often imperfect but strong defender of democracy standing for the global good. We are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are now, to many, America the reckless, unpredictable, predatory rogue nation. That is this administration’s and this president’s legacy. This is happening now.”
The comments quickly spread beyond the concert venue, drawing strong reactions online. Some social media users criticized both the content of his remarks and the setting in which they were delivered.
“What a [sic] elites self righteous POS,” one user wrote on X. “I regret ever buying this lowlifes music. He talks about the middle class as his roots while living and acting as the ,’KING’. Go kiss Bidens a– traitor…”
“I’ve seen Bruce 10x I can’t support any of this message when tickets are 1,000 dollars,” another user commented. “Get over yourself man.”
“Billionaire who charges $800 for concert tickets claims to represent working class Americans,” another user wrote.
“Another concert, another political rant. People came for the music, not a lecture.”