Bruce Springsteen slams ICE over Minneapolis protest crackdown: 'ICE should get the f**k out'

RED BANK, NEW JERSEY: Songwriter Bruce Springsteen used a surprise appearance at a concert to voice strong support for protesters in Minneapolis, repeating remarks from the city’s mayor and sharply criticizing federal immigration authorities.

His comments, delivered during a lengthy onstage preamble, were tied to the latest crackdown by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement on illegal immigration nationwide. The moment quickly drew national attention and renewed public exchanges between Springsteen and President Donald Trump.

Bruce Springsteen on Minneapolis protest and ICE

While introducing his 1978 song 'The Promised Land' to the audience, Springsteen repeated the words of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and said, “ICE should get the f**k out.” Local reports and footage shared on social media showed that Springsteen offered a lengthy preamble before performing the song.

“I wrote this song as an ode to American possibility, it was (about) both the beautiful but flawed country that we are, and to the country that we could be,” Springsteen told the audience.

He continued with a detailed statement linking democracy, liberty, and protest. “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,” he said.

Springsteen further voiced opposition to what he described as “heavily armed masked federal troops invading American cities and using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens.” He added that if people believe “you don’t deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest,” they should “send a message to this president,” again repeating Frey’s statement.

He also dedicated 'The Promised Land' to Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three who was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Her killing has sparked widespread protests across the country.

Springsteen performed a 75-minute set at Bob’s Bash, the annual marathon concert, despite not being officially listed on the bill. The appearance marked his 14th time performing at the event in its 26-year history.

Bruce Springsteen’s critique of Trump and ICE ruling

The concert marked yet another instance of Springsteen publicly taking aim at Trump. Speaking to an audience in the United Kingdom last May, Springsteen said, “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 added that the administration was “abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death … taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers.”

Trump later responded to those comments on Truth Social, writing, “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden, a mentally incompetent FOOL, and our WORST EVER President, who came close to destroying our Country.”

As the Minneapolis crackdown continued, a US federal judge issued an order limiting the crowd-control tactics ICE agents can use against “peaceful and unobstructive” protesters. Judge Katherine Menendez ruled that federal agents cannot arrest or pepper spray peaceful demonstrators, including those monitoring and observing ICE agents.

The ruling came ahead of planned weekend protests against widespread immigration action in the city. The US Department of Homeland Security said it is taking measures to protect officers from rioters, while Minnesota officials urged protesters expected to take to the streets to remain orderly and peaceful.