Bruce Springsteen calls Donald Trump 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous' at UK concert

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Bruce Springsteen isn't pulling any punches in “dangerous times.”

The Boss opened the first show of the E Steet Band's European tour on Wednesday, May 14, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, U.K., with a call to raise voices against authoritarianism. Springsteen's fiery salvo was a spirited takedown of President Donald Trump.

“The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock n' roll in dangerous times,” said Springsteen before the night's first song, “The Land of Hope and Dreams,” according to live streams. “In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring. This is 'Land of Hope and Dreams.' ”

Later, Springsteen dedicated the live debut of “Rainmaker,” from 2020's “Letter to You,” to “Our dear leader.” The track tells a story of a people in a drought with “parched crops” who are desperate for relief.

“Rainmaker take everything you have, sometimes folks need to bеlieve in something so bad, so bad, so bad,” sang Springsteen.

The show featured a new setlist compared to the concerts of 2024 and 2023, including “Death to My Hometown,” “Murder Incorporated,” “House of Thousand Guitars” and “Born in the U.S.A.”

A cover of Bob Dylan's “Chimes of Freedom” closed the show.

“Take this home with you,” Springsteen said.

Howard Bloom of Ottawa was at the show.

“As a Canadian I often wonder if the world understands how they see America today, not just your President but as a direct result your country,” said Bloom via email prior to the show. “That may not be fair, but the world is very upset (as I know are many Americans).”

The 16-date tour is the final leg of the critically acclaimed E Street tour that began Feb. 1, 2023, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa. Springsteen dubbed the run “The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour,” and suggested that a set list, and thematic, change-up was in the works.

Springsteen had refrained from speaking about political issues from the stage of E Street Band shows for the majority of his career.

“One of the artists’ jobs to make sense of existence and to make sense of the current times that you live in, and to contextualize those times,” said Springsteen previously to Variety. “Every artist does it in a different way. So I’ve got that on my mind, and I’m sure it’ll be reflected in our next leg of the tour.”

The next show is Saturday, May 17, back at the Co-op Live in Manchester.

Bruce Springsteen May 14 Manchester, UK setlist

• Land of Hope and Dreams
• Death to My Hometown
• Lonesome Day
• My Love Will Not Let You Down
• Rainmaker
• Darkness on the Edge of Town
• The Promised Land
• Hungry Heart
• My Hometown
• Youngstown
• Murder Incorporated
• Long Walk Home
• House of a Thousand Guitars
• My City of Ruins
• Letter to You
• Because the Night
• Human Touch
• Wrecking Ball
• The Rising
• Badlands
• Thunder Road
• Born in the U.S.A.
• Born to Run
• Bobby Jean
• Dancing in the Dark
• Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
• Chimes of Freedom

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@app.com