Manchester, England – Bruce Springsteen has intensified his public criticism of President Donald Trump, releasing a digital EP featuring live recordings from his recent Manchester concerts, including two spoken-word segments directly attacking the Trump administration. This move follows a series of escalating exchanges between the rock icon and the president.
Springsteen, a vocal critic of Trump, opened his Manchester concerts with the song “No Surrender,” a pointed message delivered to the audience. The digital EP, released on Wednesday, features four live songs from these performances, as well as Springsteen’s commentary, which labeled the Trump administration “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.”
The feud between the two New Jersey residents escalated after Springsteen’s initial criticisms during his European tour. Trump responded by derisively referring to Springsteen as a “dried-out prune of a rocker.” Subsequently, a satirical video posted on Trump’s social media depicted the president striking Springsteen with a golf ball as he attempted to take the stage.
The public spat has drawn other musicians into the fray. Kid Rock, a Trump supporter, defended the president on Fox News Channel, dismissing Springsteen’s working-class persona as a facade and criticizing his political views. “Bruce Springsteen is another one of the liberals who has mountains of money who so desperately wants to keep his good standing in the eyes of Hollywood and the elite,” Kid Rock stated. He also claimed that Bob Seger “smokes” Springsteen.
On Fox News’ “The Five,” former White House press secretary Dana Perino and commentator Greg Gutfeld also criticized Springsteen, with Gutfeld using an offensive slur. Conversely, Neil Young and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder have publicly supported Springsteen. Vedder, during a concert in Pittsburgh, condemned the “personal attacks and threats” directed at Springsteen, stating, “The name-calling is so beneath us.” Pearl Jam then performed Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Springsteen’s decision to replace “Land of Hope and Dreams” with “No Surrender” as his concert opener underscores the intensity of his message. The digital EP also includes a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.”
The ongoing exchange between Springsteen and Trump highlights the deep divisions within the cultural landscape and the willingness of prominent figures to engage in public political discourse.
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