Trump vs. Bruce Springsteen Explodes Into All-Out War
Bruce Springsteen performs onstage during an the Stand Up for Heroes special at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Nov. 5, 2014. Photo courtesy of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Public domain.
Trump called him a "prune," according to the New York Post. He said he should "keep his mouth shut." Then Trump suggested Bruce Springsteen might've accepted illegal campaign payments. And that was before The Boss hit back, live from Europe, accusing the president of leading a treasonous administration.
What started as a rock star's political rant has morphed into a full-blown, scorched-earth brawl between Bruce Springsteen and President Donald Trump — and the gloves are off.
The Boss Ignites the Firestorm in Manchester
Bruce Springsteen kicked off the European leg of his "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour in Manchester — but it wasn't just the music making headlines.
During the show, the 75-year-old music legend railed against what he described as growing authoritarianism in the United States, declaring that America was being governed by a corrupt and incompetent administration. He called on fans to raise their voices and stand for democracy and liberty, igniting thunderous cheers inside the packed Co-op Live arena.
Two nights later — same city, same venue — Springsteen repeated the remarks and added more fuel. He said people in America were being persecuted for using their right to free speech. And he wasn't subtle about who he blamed.
Trump's Truth Social Barrage: 'Dried Out Prune' and Worse
President Trump, 78, returning from a high-stakes diplomatic tour of the Middle East, launched a barrage of insults on Truth Social in the early hours of May 16. And he wasn't in a subtle mood.
As reported by the New York Post, Trump accused Springsteen of going "to a foreign country to speak badly about the President of the United States." He called the rocker "highly overrated," "dumb as a rock," and "a pushy, obnoxious jerk." Then he dropped the viral insult: "This dried out 'prune' of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare.' Then we'll all see how it goes for him!"
It didn't stop there.
In another post, Trump accused Springsteen — along with Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Bono — of taking illegal payments from Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign. He claimed the campaign funneled money through entertainment companies to buy celebrity endorsements, which, if true, would violate federal election laws. "Candidates aren't allowed to pay for endorsements, which is what Kamala did, under the guise of paying for entertainment," Trump wrote, as reported by Vanity Fair.
No formal investigation has been launched, and no evidence has emerged to substantiate the claims.
Springsteen Responds — With More Defiance
Rather than shrink from the attack, Springsteen doubled down. He returned to the Manchester stage and reaffirmed every one of his previous statements. He again described the current U.S. leadership as corrupt and declared that rock and roll had a responsibility in dangerous times back home.
He didn't mention Trump by name — but he didn't need to. The crowd knew. The world knew.
His fans cheered. And his peers followed suit.
Pearl Jam covered "My City of Ruins" at their Pittsburgh concert on May 16. Jason Isbell played Springsteen's "Cover Me" in New Jersey the same night. And the American Federation of Musicians released a statement of solidarity, defending both Springsteen and Taylor Swift — who was also publicly targeted by Trump last week — and proclaiming that musicians have the right to speak freely without political retaliation.
Beyond the Microphones: This Is Personal
This is not just a public squabble. Trump and Springsteen share geography — both live in New Jersey. Springsteen's Colts Neck home isn't far from Trump National Golf Club, and Trump has attended events where Springsteen's daughter, Jessica, competed in equestrian shows.
That proximity has not bred mutual respect.
Springsteen has long been an outspoken Democrat. He reportedly backed Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024. Trump, meanwhile, played "Born in the U.S.A." at his rallies — often missing the song's pointed critique of American policy — despite Springsteen's vocal disapproval.
Now, their clash isn't just ideological. It's personal. It's performative. And it's public.
Art and the Big American Rift
The Trump–Springsteen showdown is more than a feud between a rock legend and a sitting president. It's the embodiment of a larger cultural divide.
On one side: a powerful politician who thrives on grievance, confrontation, and media control. On the other: an artist who has spent decades chronicling the dreams and despair of everyday Americans, now using his stage to challenge authority.
Springsteen is leaning into his role as a symbol of resistance — and for many, his defiance is a call to action. For others, his words are proof that celebrities should stay in their lane.
Trump, as always, thrives on the fight. With an election cycle looming, the more headlines he generates, the more dominant he remains in the national conversation — even if that conversation now includes jabs at aging rockers and superstar pop singers.
What comes next? Probably more insults, more posts, more statements, and more songs.
Because when The Boss and the President clash, everyone tunes in.
References: Is Trump Trying to Bully Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé Into Saying They Like Him? | Trump rips New Jersey icons Taylor Swift, 'prune' Bruce Springsteen — adding to Garden State's bad day | Bruce Springsteen doubles down after Trump calls him 'dried out prune'
