Donald Trump is firing back at Bruce Springsteen on Truth Social after The Boss opened his “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour” with multiple speeches that eviscerated Trump and his administration. Trump reacted by attacking Springsteen over his physical appearance and urging his MAGA fanbase to boycott the tour.
“Bad, and very boring singer, Bruce Springsteen, who looks like a dried up prune who has suffered greatly from the work of a really bad plastic surgeon, has long had a horrible and incurable case of Trump Derangement Syndrome, sometimes referred to as TDS,” Trump wrote on social media. “The guy is a total loser who spews hate against a President who won a Landslide Election, including the popular vote, all Seven Swing States, and 86% of the Counties across America.”
Trump added, “Under Sleepy Joe and the Dems, our Country was DEAD, and now we have the ‘hottest’ Country, by far, anywhere in the World. MAGA SHOULD BOYCOTT HIS OVERPRICED CONCERTS, WHICH SUCK. SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. AMERICA IS BACK!!!”
In response, Local 802 American Federation of Musicians President Dan Point and Local 47 AFM President Marc Sazer issued the following statement regarding “Donald Trump’s personal attacks on union member Bruce Springsteen, member of Local 47 (Los Angeles, CA) and Local 399 (Asbury Park, NJ)”:
“We can not remain silent as one of our most celebrated members is singled out and personally attacked by the President of the United States. Bruce Springsteen is not just a brilliant musician, he is a voice for working people, a symbol of American resilience, and an inspiration to millions in this country and around the world. From ‘Nebraska’ to ‘Born to Run,’ his music has spoken truth to power for decades, and that is exactly what he is doing now. Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in complete solidarity with Bruce and every member who uses their platform to speak their conscience. Local 802 and Local 47 will always defend that right.”
Before kicking off his latest tour in Minneapolis, Springsteen told the Minnesota Star Tribune that his concerts were definitely “going to be political and very topical about what’s going on in the country.” He made good on that promise on night one of the tour, where he called Trump a “snowflake” who “can’t handle the truth.”
“While working Americans struggle, our president and his family enrich themselves by billions of dollars trading on the people’s office in corruption unmatched in American history,” Springsteen said. “This White House is destroying the American idea and our reputation around the world. To many, we are no longer looked upon as an often imperfect but strong defender of democracy standing for the global good. We are no longer the land of the free and the home of the brave. We are now, to many, America the reckless, unpredictable, predatory rogue nation. That is this administration’s and this president’s legacy.”
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Springsteen previously told Time magazine that he continues to publicly slam Trump because “a lot of people bought into his lies.” Springsteen added at the time that Trump should be “cosigned to the trash heap of history.”
While Springsteen has not yet commented on Trump’s call for a MAGA boycott against his “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour,” he did tell the Minnesota Star Tribune that he’s not concerned nor does he care about losing fans over his anti-Trump remarks.
“I don’t worry about it,” Springsteen said. “My job is very simple: I do what I want to do, I say what I want to say and then people get to say what they want to say about it. Those are the rules of my game. That’s fine with me. I don’t worry about if you’re going to lose this part of your audience. I’ve always had a feeling about the position we play culturally, and I’m still deeply committed to that idea of the band. The blowback is just part of it. I’m ready for all that.”
Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour” next stops in Portland, Ore. for a show on April 3, followed by two nights at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum on April 6 and 7.
From Variety US