Bruce Springsteen brought his political firepower to the nation's capital Wednesday night, unleashing a blistering attack on President Trump during a three-hour performance at Nationals Park. The 76-year-old rock icon, a longtime Trump antagonist, wasted no time setting the political tone.
Introducing his opening cover of Edwin Starr's "War," Springsteen called Trump "racist, incompetent [and] treasonous," drawing roars from a crowd that appeared overwhelmingly sympathetic to his views. The show was part of the "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour, which has leaned heavily into social commentary since launching in Minneapolis.
Protest Song and Tragic Names
Springsteen performed his recent protest track, "Streets of Minneapolis," written after the killing of nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents on Jan. 24. Pretti's death came less than three weeks after mother-of-three Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, also in Minneapolis. During the song, Springsteen accused federal forces of bringing "death and terror" to the city but declared "they picked the wrong town." He praised residents who "stood shoulder-to-shoulder for their neighbors," adding that "the Gestapo tactics of this president and this administration will not stand here."
As the song concluded, massive photographs of Pretti and Good were projected above the stage. Springsteen also encouraged the crowd to chant "ICE out now!" and urged them to let the White House hear their voices.
Setlist as Political Statement
The concert's setlist avoided a standard greatest-hits format, instead foregrounding Springsteen's more socially conscious material. "Born in the U.S.A.," often misinterpreted as a patriotic anthem, appeared early, followed by "Death to My Hometown," "Youngstown," "Long Walk Home," and "American Skin (41 Shots)"—the latter written after the 1999 police killing of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed Guinean immigrant.
Springsteen's sharp critiques have drawn Trump's ire before. Last year, after the musician criticized the administration overseas, Trump called him a "pushy, obnoxious JERK" and "dumb as a rock" on social media. Last month, Trump labeled Springsteen "a total loser" and urged his MAGA supporters to boycott the tour.
A Rallying Cry for the Left
The Washington audience, largely composed of Springsteen supporters, cheered when he listed virtues including "integrity, truth, compassion" and declared, "Don't let anybody tell you these things don't matter anymore. They do." The concert functioned as a rallying call, with Springsteen telling the crowd, "This American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people—you. There is no one coming to save us. We've got to do it ourselves."
The tour concludes Saturday in Philadelphia, but Springsteen announced a one-day "Power to the People" festival in the D.C. area for Oct. 3—exactly one month before the midterm elections. The lineup includes Tom Morello, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Jack Black, Cypress Hill, Killer Mike, Joan Baez, and the Dropkick Murphys.
The event arrives as the political landscape intensifies, with the White House recently launching the Trump Accounts App for a children's investment program—a move some see as an effort to shore up support ahead of the midterms. Meanwhile, the administration's Union Station revamp and ongoing energy deals in Central Asia continue to draw scrutiny.
