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Eddie Vedder spoke out in defense of Bruce Springsteen during a concert on Sunday night (May 18) in light of recent criticisms from Donald Trump.
The Pearl Jam frontman expressed his support for his friend while performing at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just two days after covering Springsteen’s 2002 song ‘My City Of Ruins’ at the same venue.
Vedder remarked: “[Trump’s] comments weren’t about the actual issues. There was no discussion of the issues, no debate on them. What we heard were personal attacks and threats aimed at silencing others who would dare to voice their opinions publicly.”
He continued: “That’s unacceptable in a country we call America. Free speech includes open dialogue. Democracy thrives on healthy conversations. The name-calling is beneath us. Bruce has always been deeply pro-American in his values of liberty and justice. I say this now to ensure that our freedom of expression will remain intact when we return to this microphone in a year or two.”
Springsteen criticized Trump’s administration as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous” during a performance at Manchester’s Co-op Live on May 14.
He added: “In my home, the America I cherish, which has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the grip of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. Tonight, we urge everyone who believes in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom ring!”
In response, the President labeled Springsteen a “dried out ‘prune’” who “should KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he’s back in the Country.”
The American Federation of Musicians addressed Trump’s remarks about both Springsteen and Taylor Swift—he had commented, “Has anyone noticed that since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’” on Truth Social last week—asserting through president Tino Gagliardi: “Musicians have the right to express themselves freely, and we stand in solidarity with all our members.”
Springsteen remained unfazed by Trump’s statements—during his second Co-op Live show, he delivered a three-minute speech against the politician, asserting: “There are changes happening right now that are affecting the very fabric of our country’s democracy, and they are too significant to ignore.”
Since then, Trump has called for an investigation into Springsteen, alleging he was paid by Kamala Harris for a “POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT,” while also targeting other artists like Bono and Beyoncé in a series of Truth Social posts.
While in the UK, Springsteen made headlines for dining at a Yorkshire restaurant with actor Stephen Graham. Norman’s Restaurant, located in Kirkburton, Huddersfield, shared a photo of the pair with their staff on Instagram, captioning: “Absolutely honoured to have these two legends with us for lunch. What a fantastic way to start the weekend!”
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