Bruce Springsteen, 76, opened his Land of Hope and Dreams Tour at Minneapolis’s Target Center with a sharp critique of the Trump administration, describing it as ‘corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous.’
Tour Kickoff Rant
Springsteen addressed the crowd, stating, ‘The America that I love, the America that I’ve written about for 50 years that’s been a beacon of hope and liberty around the world is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration.’ The audience cheered as he urged them to join the E Street Band in rejecting the administration by choosing ‘hope over fear, democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, resistance over complacency, unity over division and peace over…’ The performance transitioned into a cover of Edwin Starr’s ‘War,’ a protest staple Springsteen has used against Republicans since the Reagan era.
The band featured guitarist Tom Morello, known from Rage Against the Machine, who has collaborated with the E Street Band since 2008. Springsteen followed with his hit ‘Born in the U.S.A.,’ a song often misunderstood by politicians.
Protests and New Song
Springsteen’s appearance follows his involvement in anti-Trump protests in Minneapolis, sparked by ICE raids and the deaths of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti during encounters with federal law enforcement earlier this year. He released ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ in January, dedicating it to the victims, immigrants, and the city’s residents. Springsteen announced the track on social media, writing it in response to ‘state terror’ in the city.
Recent Rally in Twin Cities
Days before the concert, Springsteen headlined a No Kings rally at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, protesting Trump policies including ICE operations. He performed ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ and declared, ‘This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis. They picked the wrong city.’ He praised the crowd’s solidarity, saying, ‘The power and the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and of Minnesota was an inspiration to the entire country. Your strength and your commitment told us that this is still America.’
Earlier, he debuted the song live at the Defend Minnesota! benefit concert at First Avenue. Sharing an anecdote about Morello’s advice, Springsteen recalled asking if the track was too ‘soapboxy.’ Morello replied, ‘Bruce, nuance is wonderful, but sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth.’ He dedicated the performance to Minneapolis residents and Americans nationwide.
Broader Context
Springsteen’s activism aligns with his history as a vocal Democrat critic of Trump. Recently, a lyric from ‘Born in the U.S.A.’—’So they put a rifle in my hands, sent me off to a foreign land, to go and kill the yellow man’—faced censorship on a UK radio station, which edits the line during airplay. The song reflects a Vietnam veteran’s post-war struggles.
