Bruce Springsteen makes surprise appearance with newly released protest song at Minneapolis benefit
Bruce Springsteen sang his newly released song, “The Streets of Minneapolis” in a surprise appearance at a benefit show in Minneapolis Friday, to raise money for the families of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were fatally shot by federal immigration officers earlier this month.… pic.twitter.com/RAUxyO2T9x
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 1, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Bruce Springsteen dropped into Minneapolis on Friday, January 30, and delivered a surprise live performance of his freshly released protest track, 'Streets of Minneapolis', just hours after the song shot to the top of the iTunes charts.
The New Jersey rocker took the stage at First Avenue, the storied Minneapolis venue hosting the “Defend Minnesota!” benefit concert, where he performed the track inspired by the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.
“This is for the people of Minneapolis, people of Minnesota, and people of our good country of the United States of America,” Springsteen told the audience.
Earlier that same morning, 'Streets of Minneapolis' climbed to the No. 1 spot on iTunes, edging out Ella Langley’s 'Choosin’ Texas', Bryson Tiller’s 'Let Em’ Know', and Bruno Mars’ 'I Just Might'. The song runs four and a half minutes.
Springsteen revealed on social media that he wrote the song on January 24 and released it on January 28, saying it was created “in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis.”
“It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors, and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” Springsteen wrote. He signed off with, “Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
'Streets of Minneapolis' lyrics take aim at federal enforcement and Trump officials
The song openly slams federal immigration enforcement efforts and name-checks several Trump administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, and President Donald Trump.
The first verse of the song goes, "Through the winter's ice and cold/Down Nicollet Avenue/A city aflame fought fire and ice/'Neath an occupier's boots/King Trump's private army from the DHS/Guns belted to their coats/Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law/Or so their story goes."
In the second verse, Springsteen condemns ICE's actions and the killings of Pretti and Good: "Against smoke and rubber bullets/In the dawn's early light/Citizens stood for justice/Their voices ringin' through the night/And there were bloody footprints/Where mercy should have stood/And two dead, left to die on snow-filled streets/Alex Pretti and Renée Good."
"Trump's federal thugs beat up on/His face and his chest/Then we heard the gunshots/And Alex Pretti lay in the snow dead/Their claim was self-defense, sir/Just don't believe your eyes/It's our blood and bones/And these whistles and phones/Against Miller and Noem's dirty lies," goes the third verse.
In the fourth verse, Springsteen urges people to raise their voices against the government's conduct: "Now they say they're here to uphold the law/But they trample on our rights/If your skin is black or brown, my friend/You can be questioned or deported on sight/In our chants of 'ICE out now'/Our city's heart and soul persists/Through broken glass and bloody tears/On the streets of Minneapolis."
Meanwhile, the chorus goes, "Oh, our Minneapolis, I hear your voice/Singing through the bloody mist/We'll take our stand for this land/And the stranger in our midst/Here in our home, they killed and roamed/In the winter of '26/We'll remember the names of those who died/On the streets of Minneapolis."
Trump administration fires back
The song quickly drew a response from Trump administration officials.
“We eagerly await Mr. Springsteen’s songs dedicated to the thousands of American citizens killed by criminal illegal aliens,” Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in response to the release.
“Every day, the brave men and women of ICE are saving lives by arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, r*pists, p*dophiles, drug dealers, gang members, and te**orists,” McLaughlin added.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson also took aim at the singer’s commentary.
“The Trump Administration is focused on encouraging state and local Democrats to work with federal law enforcement officers on removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities — not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information,” Jackson remarked.
