Bruce Springsteen has addressed criticism from President Trump, saying that people are being persecuted for their right to free speech and voicing dissent. The Boss delivered a three-minute speech during his Manchester concert, where he reiterated his concerns about Trump’s policies, including defunding American universities, rolling back civil rights legislation, and siding with dictators.
Springsteen called out Trump’s behavior as “sadistic” and said that the majority of elected representatives have failed to protect Americans from the president’s abuses. He also criticized those who enable Trump’s policies, saying they show no concern for what it means to be deeply American.
The speech came after Trump had called Springsteen an “obnoxious jerk” on Truth Social, where he also wrote that Springsteen should keep his mouth shut. However, Springsteen did not back down, and instead used the opportunity to reiterate his message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-05-17/bruce-springsteen-president-trump-manchester-concert