Bruce Springsteen Condemns ‘Treasonous' Trump-5 Times He Blasted President

Bruce Springsteen once again criticized President Donald Trump on Tuesday night, urging his fans to loudly chant “ICE out,” as he performed in Washington, D.C. and announced he would be playing at a protest festival later this year.

Across his latest tour and interviews, Springsteen has transformed his performances into a platform for sustained political criticism, repeatedly warning that U.S. democracy is under threat while casting Trump's leadership as authoritarian and corrosive to core national values. His remarks have drawn sharp rebuttals from the president, fueling an ongoing cultural and political feud that has intensified as the 2026 midterms approach.

On Wednesday night, the singer opened his show by calling Trump "racist, incompetent, [and] treasonous.” He later urged his fans to shout loud enough to be heard at the White House.

What Is the ‘Power to the People’ Festival?

Springsteen revealed that he will be playing the Power to the People Festival later this year, an event created by Rage Against the Machine guitarist and political activist Tom Morello. The event, described as a "celebration of peace, justice, solidarity, music, and community action,” will take place on October 3 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, not far from Washington, D.C.

Springsteen is billed as a “special guest” in the lineup, which includes a slew of famous artists:

• Foo Fighters
• Dave Matthews
• Tom Morello
• Joan Baez
• Jack Black
• Dropkick Murphys
• Cypress Hill
• Killer Mike
• Serj Tankian
• Brittany Howard
• Taylor Momsen
• The Linda Lindas
• Darryl “DMC” McDaniels
• Matt Cameron
• Grandson
• The Neighborhood Kids
• Shepard Fairey DJ Set
• Special Guest Bruce Springsteen

Ticket pre-sale began on Friday at 10 a.m. ET; the general sale begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets are $125 for lawn seating, $225 for the pavilion, and $375 for VIP. A portion of the proceeds, plus 100 percent of net proceeds from VIP tickets, will go to VoteRiders, a nonpartisan voting rights organization whose “mission is to eliminate ID barriers to the ballot box so every eligible voter can cast a ballot that counts,” as well as HeadCount, which will also be on site helping attendees register to vote.

"The Power To The People festival is about freedom, justice, equality and rock and roll," Morello said in a statement. "It's about the power everyday human beings have when they come together through music, art, community, and action. We're honored to bring this incredible lineup to the DC area for a day that celebrates the spirit of activism, creativity, and hope."

Springsteen’s Clashes With the President

1. Manchester Tour Kickoff: ‘Corrupt, Incompetent and Treasonous’

Springsteen reignited his clash with Trump during the opening night of his Land of Hope and Dreams tour in Manchester last May, where he delivered one of his most widely reported criticisms.

He told the crowd that the U.S. was "currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration," and urged fans to "raise your voices against authoritarianism."

The comments prompted a direct response from Trump, marking the start of a renewed, highly public feud.

“I see that Highly Overrated Bruce Springsteen goes to a Foreign Country to speak badly about the President of the United States. Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he's not a talented guy - Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK,” Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time.

2. Tour Speeches and Interviews: ‘American Tragedy’ and ‘Demagogue’

As the tour continued, Springsteen escalated his criticism of Trump in interviews, especially in a June 2025 conversation with The New York Times. He described Trump's presidency as "an American tragedy" and called him a "demagogue," arguing economic inequality created conditions that allowed Trump to rise.

Later that year, he added even sharper language, saying Trump embodied "what the 25th Amendment and impeachment were for.”

3. Time Magazine Profile: "Trash Heap of History"

In a widely cited Time interview in September 2025, Springsteen criticized both Trump and his supporters, arguing many Americans had "bought into his lies." He said Trump "doesn't care about the forgotten anybody but himself," and added that if Congress had acted, he "would be consigned to the trash heap of history."

The remarks were among his most direct calls for political accountability.

4. Minneapolis Tour Launch and Anti-ICE Messaging

At the launch of his 2026 tour in Minneapolis, widely described as part concert, part political rally, Springsteen sharply criticized Trump-era immigration policies.

He again described the administration as "corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous," while introducing protest songs tied to ICE enforcement and referring to federal actions as part of a broader assault on American values.

His performances frequently included chants like "ICE out now," underscoring the political tone.

5. Washington, D.C. Concert: ‘Reckless, Racist…Treasonous President’

Springsteen delivered one of his most forceful speeches at a Washington, D.C. concert.

He told the audience that American democracy was being tested by "a reckless, racist, incompetent, treasonous president," before urging fans to take action and "let them hear you at the White House."

He framed the moment as a turning point, telling the crowd: "There is no one coming to save us…we've got to do it ourselves."

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 8:40 AM.