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Bruce Springsteen has firmly stood by his outspoken political views, particularly those criticizing ICE and former President Donald Trump, as he gears up for a “No Kings” rally in St. Paul this weekend.
In a conversation with The Minnesota Star Tribune on Wednesday, Springsteen explained, “Meeting the moment is crucial. The No Kings movement carries significant weight right now. Having the chance to perform something that speaks to the current climate, especially if it has a strong message, can transform both the moment and my role as an artist. I am always on the lookout for opportunities like that.”
This rally will also mark the start of Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour,” set to commence on March 31 in Minneapolis. The tour coincides with the release of his latest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” which serves as a protest anthem against Trump’s administration and its aggressive stance on immigration enforcement in the state.
Despite receiving backlash for his political expression through music, Springsteen remains unapologetic. Drawing inspiration from fellow musician Tom Morello, he remarked, “Nuance is wonderful, but sometimes you have to be more direct.”
Springsteen emphasized his commitment to authenticity, stating, “I’m not concerned about the criticism. My role is straightforward: I express myself freely, and others are equally free to express their opinions in response.”
“Those are the rules of my game. That’s fine with me. I don’t worry about if you’re going to lose this part of your audience. I’ve always had a feeling about the position we play culturally, and I’m still deeply committed to that idea of the band. The blowback is just part of it. I’m ready for all that.”
He emphasized the “critical moment” America is facing when asked whether his demonstrations are now “more important than ever.”
“I don’t know of another time when the country has been as critically challenged and our basic ideas and values as critically challenged as they are right now,” Springsteen said. “I’d have to go back to 1968 when I was 18 years old to another moment when it felt like the country was so on edge and like it felt there was simply so much at stake as far as who we are and the country we want to be and the people we want to be. It’s a critical, critical moment.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to Springsteen’s publicist for comment.
Springsteen has been openly disparaging U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after the death of Renee Good in January. He even insisted they “get the f— out of Minneapolis” during a concert in the city earlier this year.
“If you believe in democracy, in liberty, if you believe that truth still matters, that it’s worth speaking out, that it is worth fighting for, if you believe in the power of the law and no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president,” Springsteen told a crowd.
“And as the mayor of that city has said, ‘ICE should get the f— out of Minneapolis.’”