“He’s a Tragedy for America”

Bruce Springsteen loves America so much, that he’s viscerally in pain at the thought of Donald Trump being president. Springsteen wears his politics on his sleeves, and he ensures everyone knows about it. To the casual listener, Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” sounds like a triumphant anthem on the joys of being American. But make no mistake. The upbeat tune delivers a somber message on the men returning home from Vietnam — bleak, hopeless, and carrying the ghosts of a war that wasn’t even theirs to begin with. He’s not a musician who makes art for the sake of art itself — he utilizes its power to amplify messages of justice. As Springsteen and the E Street Band hit the road on tour, the Boss has got a lot to say about the current situation in America and doesn’t mind throwing shot after shot toward Trump’s administration.

Donald Trump Sends Online Threats in Response to Bruce Springsteen’s Criticism

During the opening night of his “Land of Hope & Dreams” tour on May 14, 2025, Springsteen criticized the current U.S. administration in a speech delivered on stage in Manchester, England. Without naming Trump directly, he condemned what he described as a “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous” government and urged the audiences to stand up against authoritarianism.

Trump responded on May 16 in a Truth Social post, calling Springsteen “highly overrated” and “dumb as a rock.” He accused the musician of badmouthing the president abroad and implied that Springsteen should keep quiet until returning to the U.S. Springsteen doubled down on his May 17 show, warning fans that freedom of speech in the U.S. was under threat and criticizing the government for its cruelty toward workers and the poor. Trump escalated the feud on May 21 by posting a doctored video showing him hitting a golf ball that appeared to strike Springsteen on stage, knocking him over.

Most recently, in a June 18 New York Times interview, Springsteen described Trump’s second term as “an American tragedy.” He pointed to industrialization, rising inequality, and recent ICE raids as a sign of a nation in decline, calling Trump a “demagogue” who took advantage of desperate times.

“I think that it was the combination of the deindustrialization of the country and then the incredible increase in wealth disparity that left so many people behind. It was ripe for a demagogue,” he added. “And while I can’t believe it was this moron that came along, he fit the bill for some people. But what we’ve been living through in the last 70 days is things that we all said, ‘This can’t happen here.’ ‘This will never happen in America.’ And here we are.”

The “Born in the USA” Singer Endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Elections

Springsteen has a long, public record of opposing Trump. On October 4, 2024, the Boss openly endorsed Kamala Harris for president, describing Trump as “the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime.” According to Springsteen, unlike Harris’ and Tim Walz’s vision of an America built on inclusion, he accused Trump of having no understanding of the country’s values or democratic foundations, and of disrespecting the Constitution, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power.

Way before the previous election, Springsteen has a long record of backing Democratic candidates. In 2020, he voiced a campaign ad for Joe Biden and allowed his music to be used at the Democratic National Convention. The ad is a testament to Biden’s blue-collar roots in Scranton, contrasting them with Trump’s privileged upbringing. Springsteen has always made the public aware of which side of history he chooses to be on, and he urges fans to use their constitutional right to vote: “Like you, I’ve only got one vote, and it’s one of the most powerful things I have. That’s why I’ll be voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz this November.”

Jeremy Allen White Stars As Bruce in Upcoming Biopic ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’

Springsteen’s origin story makes its way to the silver screen with the upcoming biopic, Deliver Me From Nowhere. Focusing on the creation of Springsteen’s 1982 album Nebraska, Jeremy Allen White’s version of the Springsteen story follows the singer at his rawest and most vulnerable. Determined to create a more personal and stripped-down record, the singer chooses to record Nebraska alone — without the E Street Band. Mixing present-day scenes with black-and-white flashbacks, everything culminates in Springsteen filling an emotional hole that he realized wasn’t there — through the power of music.

Directed by Scott Cooper, Deliver Me From Nowhere is adapted from Warren Zanes’ 2023 book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. With Springsteen himself involved in the production, the film also stars Jeremy Strong, Paul Walter Hauser, Marc Maron, Stephen Graham, Gaby Hoffmann, David Krumholtz, and Odessa Young. The film is set to premiere in theaters on October 24, 2025.