Bruce Springsteen has interrogated what it means to be a patriot, saying that to him, it means the freedom to criticise those in power.
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The music icon has been largely outspoken against Donald Trump over the years, and frequently used his time both on and off the stage to call out the President and his administration.
Heated disputes between the two of them include The Boss calling for Trump to be impeached and “consigned to the trash heap of history”, as well as describing the President as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous”.
During his recent PBS special, Bruce Springsteen: Finding America in Song, the heartland rocker defended his outspoken stance on the US President. “I believe in critical patriotism,” he explained.
“I believe that’s the definition of a patriot, you know, that you love your country so much that you are willing to look at it clearly, recognise its faults, encourage it to be a better place, and believe that you carry in your heart the country that is waiting.”
He penned the politically-charged song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’ following ICE agents killing two civilians in Minnesota, and reflecting on writing the song he said he was “very angry” when it came to him back in January. “And usually, I write songs that have a lot of political implications but very often are not directly political.
“So, in this case, I wrote a protest song. I thought, ‘Gee, maybe this is a little broad?’ You know?” he said. “But then I had my buddy, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine, and he says, ‘No, no, no.’ [He] says, ‘Bruce, nuance is great, but sometimes you’ve gotta kick ’em in the teeth.’”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Springsteen called Trump’s administration as a “ship of fools”, but shared some optimism about America’s future.
“I think we’re going through a very, very difficult period, but I tend to remain realistically optimistic,” he said. “That the country will pull out of it and something new will be born from it that is good.”
Trump has hit back at Springsteen’s critiques too, branding The Boss a “pushy, obnoxious JERK”, as well as a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker”, and the White House slammed Springsteen’s tour before it had even started – writing that the singer has a “severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain”.
Last month, at the Tribeca Film Festival, Springsteen acknowledged how some of his fans have been alienated by his outspoken comments against Trump, and said that he hopes to find some “common ground” with them going forward.
After being presented with the 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award by Bono, the U2 singer asked if The Boss ever feels “torn” over the fact that some previous fans will no longer see him play live due to the political stance.
Responding, Springsteen said: “You have to do two things. You make your stand, and you follow your beliefs.”
“You have to have the faith in them [beliefs] that they will be explicable and understandable by your fellow citizens, and you have to believe that America is an argument, and it’s a compromise constantly, and then finding some sort of common ground is a possibility,” he continued.
“I don’t even really consider myself an activist. I feel like I’m, at best, a concerned citizen,” Springsteen shared. “I sing my songs, I say a few things and wish for the best, you know, help folks out a little bit here and a little bit there.”
“There’re so many people that do so much more than I do,” he added, saying that Bono was much “more of an activist” than he is.
He later joined the U2 frontman at Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening ceremony, taking to the stage to perform ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’. “I’m so glad to be here this afternoon for President Obama and Michelle, Malia and Sasha, you know how I love you all,” he told the crowd.
“Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually strive to improve this great nation of ours.’ That was from President Obama’s speech in Selma,” he continued. “President Obama and Michelle, you have exemplified that ideal with lives that have served us all with heart and commitment, love and compassion.”
In addition to Bono, the Edge, and Springsteen, the line-up included Christina Aguilera, Common, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Marsai Martin, The Roots, and Tems.
