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Neil Young and Eddie Vedder Defend Springsteen as Trump Escalates Feud

Artists rally around Bruce Springsteen following his criticism of Trump, as the president calls for unsubstantiated investigations into campaign contributions by entertainers.

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Neil Young performs at the BottleRock Festival in Napa Valley on May 25, 2019. Young has sharply escalated his criticism of Donald Trump, standing in solidarity with Bruce Springsteen and other artists who have recently come under fire from the president.
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performs during the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Overview

  • Bruce Springsteen labeled the Trump administration as 'corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous' during a Manchester concert, prompting a series of personal attacks from Trump on Truth Social.
  • Neil Young publicly supported Springsteen, urging Trump to focus on pressing national issues rather than targeting musicians, and criticized the president's leadership.
  • Eddie Vedder honored Springsteen by performing 'My City of Ruins' and defended free speech during a Pearl Jam concert, calling Trump's rhetoric 'beneath us.'
  • Trump has called for investigations into alleged illegal campaign contributions by Springsteen, Beyoncé, Oprah, and Bono, but these claims remain unsubstantiated and widely disputed.
  • The American Federation of Musicians issued a statement condemning Trump's personal attacks on Springsteen and Taylor Swift, emphasizing musicians' rights to free expression.