Bruce Springsteen Delivers Fiery Speech Against Trump Era During Manchester Concert

Bruce Springsteen, widely recognized for pioneering heartland rock—a genre blending traditional rock with stories of working-class American life—has enjoyed a six-decade-long career. His iconic song Born in the USA, often mistaken as a patriotic anthem, was actually a protest against the mistreatment of military veterans and the working class during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

On May 14 in Manchester, during his Land of Hope and Dreams tour, Springsteen delivered a powerful speech condemning Donald Trump and his administration. Welcoming the UK audience, he spoke of using the “righteous power of art” to stand strong in challenging times. He described America as a nation under the control of a corrupt and treacherous government and urged the audience to stand against authoritarianism and defend democracy.

Before performing House of a Thousand Guitars, Springsteen declared that when traditional checks on power fail, it is the people who must rise. He emphasized unity and shared values as the last defense against tyranny, saying, “At the end of the day, all we’ve got is each other.”

Later in the concert, while introducing City of Ruin, Springsteen continued his sharp critique, warning of dangerous developments in America. He accused the government of punishing citizens for expressing dissent, neglecting global humanitarian responsibilities, causing harm to American workers, undoing civil rights progress, siding with authoritarian regimes, and deporting residents without due legal process. He highlighted the urgency by stating, “This is all happening now.”

Springsteen’s final message was a strong condemnation of lawmakers who failed to safeguard Americans from a dysfunctional government. He reaffirmed his faith in the values he’s sung about for decades and expressed hope, quoting writer James Baldwin: “There’s not as much humanity as one would like, but there’s enough.”

This outspoken criticism aligns with recent comments by Robert De Niro at the Cannes Film Festival, where he also denounced Trump’s actions. Springsteen has endorsed Kamala Harris and continues his European tour, with France as his next stop.