Bruce Springsteen attacks “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous” Donald Trump regime at Manchester show
Bruce Springsteen has begun his 2025 tour in Manchester at the Co-op Live on May 14th and used his first show in the United Kingdom to attack the Donald Trump administration.
‘The Boss’ has famously been outspoken about the American values he holds dear and has been extremely critical of Trump since he first took office in 2016. He also campaigned heavily for Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, calling him an “American tyrant” in a rallying cry to voters just days before he won the keys to the Oval Office for the second time.
Now, in Manchester, Springsteen lamented the state of his home country that he loves dearly, saying, “In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about, and has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration.”
Springsteen also called for action from his audience, asking for “all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experience to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring.” He then performed, ‘Land of Hope and Dreams,’ which appeared on his album Wrecking Ball.
This is far from the first time that Springsteen has struck back against the Trump administration. However, typically with his statement, rather than point out all of the shortcomings that Trump had in the past, Springsteen often talks about the version of America that he has always hoped for, saying at a Kamala Harris rally last October, “I want a president who reveres the Constitution, who does not threaten, but wants to protect and guide our great democracy, who believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, who will fight for a woman’s right to choose.”
The remark also comes after Springsteen decided to rebrand the name of his tour to The Land of Hope and Dreams. It had initially been titled the Letter to Run when it started in 2023.
Following the conclusion of his three shows at the Co-op Live in Manchester, he will play two concerts at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool. He will also play dates across Europe in France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain.
As of yet, there has been no response from Trump on the matter.
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