Bruce Springsteen launched multiple attacks on U.S. President Donald Trump during his concert in Manchester on Wednesday, May 14. The show marked the opening night of his UK and European tour at Co-Op Live.
After kicking off the night with Land of Hope and Dreams, Springsteen, 75, addressed the crowd: "It's great to be in Manchester and back in the UK. Welcome to the Land of Hope and Dreams Tour.
"The mighty E St. Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock 'n' roll in dangerous times."
He continued: "In my home, the America I love… is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration."
"Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy… to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!"
Before performing House of a Thousand Guitars, Springsteen added: "The last check… after the checks and balances of government have failed are the people, you and me. It's in the union of people… that stands between a democracy and authoritarianism."
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Later, introducing City of Ruins, he escalated his critique: "There's some very weird, strange and dangerous s* going on out there right now… They are defunding American universities… deporting [residents] to foreign detention centres… abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators."**
He closed his speech with a message of hope: "The America I've sung to you about for 50 years is real… So we'll survive this moment. Now, I have hope… there's enough [humanity]. Let's pray."
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