Bruce Springsteen, the legendary rock star known for his poetic lyrics and soul-stirring anthems, just opened his new tour in Manchester, England. It worked—he made headlines by doubling-down on his disparaging comments about Donald Trump during the event. Springsteen described the fight against Trump as a cause of “a new level.” This announcement underlines the presidential candidate’s continued, trenchant criticism of the former president. This performance once again opened the floodgates on the question of political divides in the United States, especially among Springsteen’s notoriously rabid fanbase.
In between songs at his recent Newark concert, Springsteen spoke directly to our country’s dangerous political moment. He expressed his concerns about how a significant portion of the country has been “thoroughly hypnotised, brainwashed by a conman from Queens.” His comments opened the door to many themes that he has fervently pursued throughout his career. In particular, he prioritized the plight of the poor and political strife.
Springsteen’s 1995 album, The Ghost of Tom Joad, wrenchingly recounts the lives of beleaguered immigrants. It showcases the journeys of two people—one from Mexico, the other from Vietnam—giving voice to their narratives. These artists’ works spoke deeply to those who felt unrecognized or unheard in the America of today’s social climate. His eponymous song My Hometown goes deeper yet, condemning the very same economic decline that Trump has repeatedly weaponized for political gain.
The artist’s chart-topping anthem, “Born in the USA,” nonetheless, vividly depicts the plight of veterans returning from the Vietnam War. It accents their unemployment and hopelessness on their journey back home. Springsteen’s compelling stories have made him a cultural icon of the blue-collar experience. For these reasons, many view him as Trump’s foremost cultural adversary.
Trump answered Springsteen’s critique with characteristic vitriol, calling the music icon “highly overrated” and proceeding to mock him in a totally unhinged barrage of comments. When the former president noticed, he even posted an altered video jokingly proposing that he whack Springsteen with a golf drive. Trump’s dismissive comments reflect a broader tension between his supporters and Springsteen’s fanbase, which has historically been aligned with more progressive ideals.
Springsteen has been an advocate for Democratic causes for a long time, having previously campaigned for Barack Obama in past elections. Unsurprisingly, his music has been quoted by the likes of former president Ronald Reagan, furthering its cultural history as a classic deeply embedded in American culture. This unexpected political alignment has alienated some of its fans. As a result, an increasing number of blue-collar workers are coming into conflict with his ideology.
Randy Ellis, a longtime New Jersey resident and even bigger Springsteen fan. He wrote thoughtfully on the divisive climate in which the artist’s comments have quickly become politicized. “The state is proud of Bruce Springsteen. He should become the state bird for all I know,” he said. Yet, he acknowledged the polarization: “In the last election, Harris won the state but there were many more people for Trump than I ever expected in New Jersey.”
Brad Hobicorn, a musician who plays in a Springsteen cover band, noted that differing political opinions exist within their group. “My band is split. We’re half red, half blue. We have civilised conversations and then we go and play the music and it’s never been about politics,” he stated. Hobicorn pointed out that not everyone in the band agrees with Springsteen’s ideology, but they still chose to play music together.
And yet, for all this rift, plenty of New Jerseyans still want to have Springsteen’s babies. “Free speech is live at Randy Now’s Man Cave,” reads a popular slogan among local fans, emphasizing their pride in Springsteen’s contributions to culture and music. Dan DeLuca, a music critic, remarked on Springsteen’s role as a truth-teller: “The thing about Bruce that people love is this idea of being a truth teller. You can only advocate for the issues that you find but once you discover them, you have to advocate against these deficiencies.