Bruce Springsteen slams Donald Trump again during second Lille concert: “They’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain”
Bruce Springsteen has used every opportunity to call out President Donald Trump on his European tour, and he has attacked the politician again on his second night in Lille on May 27th.
Springsteen began his European tour in Manchester at the Co-op Live on May 14th. At this first show, he condemned the Trump administration. The Boss continues to spread his monologue at every show despite clear threats from Trump.
On his second night at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Springsteen gave an almost word-for-word speech to the one he has continued to bellow to crowds across Europe. He began, “Things are happening right now that are altering the very nature of our country’s democracy, and they’re simply too important to ignore.”
The crowd were mightily responsive. “So, first let me thank you for indulging me. In America, in my home, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent,” he announced, with a hand to his heart when the crowd roared in response.
“This is happening now. America’s richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now. In my country, they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on the loyal American workers,” he stated.
He reacted against the pain many loyal American workers feel and the rollback on historic civil rights legislation. He also slammed the government’s new defunding of “American universities that won’t bow down to their ideological demands.” This is particularly poignant, as the Trump administration intends to cancel all federal funds to Harvard and halt the University’s ability to enrol international students.
Springsteen has not been silenced by Trump’s attempts to revoke his rights to protest. After news of the first night reached the president, he previously wrote on Truth Social, “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK”.
He continued to slam the “dumb as a rock” musician: “This dried out “prune” of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just “standard fare.” Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”
Days later, Trump announced plans to launch a “major investigation” into the singer’s support of the Democratic Party at the last election. Springsteen performed at two rallies in swing states last October. In another move, Trump posted a brutal meme which saw doctored footage of the President whacking the musician with a golf ball.
However, fellow musicians like Neil Young and Pearl Jam have shown their solidarity with Springsteen at recent live performances.
Springsteen’s tour will continue with a show in Marseille on 31 May before coming to Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium.
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