Breaking News: After Springsteen criticized Trump at his Manchester, England, concert, Trump threatened in a social media post:
“Springsteen is ‘dumb as a rock,’ and couldn’t see what was going on, or could he (which is even worse!)? This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare.’ Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”
Here’s what Springsteen said at his concert:
“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,” Springsteen said at the beginning of a concert.
“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,” he said.
“Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism,” added Springsteen.
The rock star spoke out several times during the show, later posting clips of his comments to his Instagram account.
“The last check on power, after the checks and balances of government have failed, are the people — you and me. It’s in the union of people around a common set of values. Now that’s all that stands between democracy and authoritarianism. So at the end of the day, all we’ve really got is each other,” he continued.
Later in the concert, he criticized some of the US administration’s most recent policies.
“In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now,” he said.
“In my country, they are taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers, they’re rolling back historic civil rights legislation that led to a more just and plural society,” he said.
This came on the heels of Robert De Niro who criticized the current President at the Cannes Film Festival.
“In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted,” said De Niro.
“That affects all of us here, because the arts are democratic, art is inclusive and brings people together, like tonight. Art looks for truth. Art embraces diversity, and that’s why art is a threat,” added De Niro, who is an outspoken critic of the US president.
“That’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists,” he added.
De Niro ended his speech with a call for people to stand up to Trump “without violence, but with great passion and determination.”