Springsteen Confesses How He Really Feels About Trump and America
Bruce Springsteen - Concert for Valor in Washington, D.C. 2014. Photo by DoD News Feature under CC BY 2.0.
The guitar was screaming. The lights were blinding. And Bruce Springsteen — the living legend known simply as "The Boss" — was furious.
As fans packed into Manchester's Co-op Live Arena expecting hits and nostalgia, they got something far more electric: an emotional, politically charged explosion from a rock icon who refuses to go quietly into retirement. At 75, Springsteen is still raging — and this time, it was personal.
'In Dangerous Times...'
The air was already heavy with anticipation. It was the first night of Springsteen's "Land of Hope and Dreams" 2025 tour — and the venue’s one-year anniversary.
Then Bruce walked out, not with a quiet nod but a thunderous warning. He promised to call upon the "righteous power of music, art and rock and roll in dangerous times" — and immediately launched into a scorching political monologue, the Manchester Evening News reported.
He didn't mention names at first. But everyone knew who he was talking about.
"In my home, the America I love... is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration," Springsteen declared.
He urged the crowd to "rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom reign." What followed wasn't just a concert — it was a call to arms.
Trump Fires Back — And Springsteen Doubles Down
Just 24 hours later, the backlash began. President Trump, fuming from his Truth Social account, called Springsteen an "obnoxious jerk," a "dried-out prune of a rocker," and warned ominously, "We'll see how it goes for him" once he's back on American soil, according to the L.A. Times.
But if Trump expected silence, he clearly doesn't know Springsteen.
On night two in Manchester, Springsteen returned to the stage — fists still clenched — and made it clear he wasn't backing down.
"Things are happening right now that are altering the very nature of our country's democracy," he said, thanking the crowd for listening. "They're too important to ignore," as reported by the L.A. Times.
Then he tore into a chilling list: government persecution of free speech, the rollback of civil rights, abandonment of America's allies, and the deportation of residents without due process.
"This is happening now," he repeated.
A Setlist Turned Battle Cry
Backed by his ever-loyal E Street Band, Springsteen tore through his set with new urgency. Songs like "Death to My Hometown," "Promised Land," and "Darkness on the Edge of Town" weren't just classics — they became anthems of resistance.
Even as he dipped into crowd favorites like "Hungry Heart" and "Born to Run," the underlying message remained raw: democracy is at stake.
And then came the whisper-turned-roar: "There's some very weird strange and dangerous s--- going on out there right now in America," the Manchester Evening News reported.
That wasn't a lyric — that was Springsteen being Springsteen.
The Boss Isn't Just Singing — He's Warning
After a haunting performance of "House of a Thousand Guitars," Springsteen sat at the edge of the stage, scanning the room like a preacher before delivering one final sermon.
"The criminal clown has stolen the throne," he said, according to Manchester Evening News.
He went on, "They're persecuting people for their right to free speech ... They're taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers," the L.A. Times reported.
The crowd, thousands strong, roared with him. When he quoted writer James Baldwin — "In this world, there isn't as much humanity as one would like, but there's enough," it landed like a gut punch.
This wasn't just a rock show. It was therapy. And Springsteen was the therapist America didn't know it needed.
'Born in the USA' Hits Harder Than Ever
As the anthems rolled out — "The Rising," "Wrecking Ball," "Born in the U.S.A.," and "Thunder Road" — it became obvious: Bruce wasn't singing about America anymore. He was singing to it.
And while the political message might rattle some, the crowd in Manchester stood behind him — defiant, loyal, and on its feet for nearly three straight hours.
Even Trump's online jabs couldn't touch the energy in the room.
One Final Walk Into the Crowd
He ended the night with "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," walking into the crowd as fans reached for a glimpse, a touch, a memory. At 75, Springsteen isn't slowing down — he's speeding toward something greater: legacy through truth, music, and fury.
And as his Manchester shows come to a close, one thing is clear: Bruce Springsteen isn't just the voice of American rock. He's its conscience.
References: Bruce Springsteen is pissed off as he makes explosive statements in historic Manchester gig | Bruce Springsteen speaks out on Trump again: 'They're persecuting people for their right to free speech'
