On May 16, 2025, Donald Trump answered Bruce Springsteen’s criticism of his administration at a concert in Manchester, England, with a Truth Social post beginning, “Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics.” Trump added personal insults and said Springsteen should keep quiet until returning to the United States. The post was published at 10:07 a.m. EDT, according to the archived post record.
What prompted Trump’s response?
Springsteen made his comments during a Manchester concert roughly two days before Trump’s post. Contemporary accounts described the remarks as criticism of the Trump administration and concern about free speech and dissent in the United States.
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NY1 quoted Springsteen saying: “In America, they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent.” His comments came while he was performing outside the United States, which became a central point in Trump’s reply.
What did Trump say on Truth Social?
Trump complained that Springsteen had gone abroad to criticize the president. He called the musician “Highly Overrated,” said he had never liked Springsteen’s music or politics, and described him as a “pushy, obnoxious JERK.” Trump also wrote that Springsteen should “KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country.”
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The post continued with additional attacks on Springsteen’s talent, age and appearance. Those descriptions are Trump’s rhetoric, not independently established findings about the musician.
How the two statements compare
| Speaker and date | Setting | Main subject | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Springsteen, Manchester concert, mid-May 2025 | Live performance in England | Government policy, free speech and dissent in the United States | Political criticism |
| Donald Trump, Truth Social, May 16, 2025 | Online post from the president | Springsteen’s criticism, politics, music and personal characteristics | Personal attack and warning |
What did the White House say separately?
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung issued a separate statement later on May 16. It was not part of Trump’s Truth Social post. Cheung extended the insults by recasting Springsteen song titles, writing that when the singer returned to his “City of Ruins” in his head, he would discover his “Glory Days” were behind him and that fans had left him “Out in the Street,” putting him in a “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” because of what Cheung called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
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The authorship distinction matters: “Never liked him” was Trump’s post, while the song-title statement was attributed to Cheung.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why does this exchange matter in Springsteen’s political history?
Springsteen has incorporated political themes into his public work for decades. The Associated Press has also noted that Trump used “Born in the U.S.A.” at campaign rallies, despite Springsteen’s objections. That earlier dispute provides background, but the immediate trigger in 2025 was Springsteen’s Manchester criticism of the administration.
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The episode also illustrates a sharp contrast in subject and tone. Springsteen addressed public institutions and the right to dissent; Trump’s response centered on the musician’s political views, artistic reputation and personal appearance. Neither the insults in Trump’s post nor Cheung’s allegations should be treated as independently verified descriptions.
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Timeline
- Manchester concert: Springsteen criticizes the Trump administration and describes pressure on free speech and dissent in America.
- May 16, 2025, 10:07 a.m. EDT: Trump publishes his “Never liked him” response on Truth Social.
- Later that day: Steven Cheung releases a separate statement using references to Springsteen song titles.
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