Bruce Springsteen is hoping he can find common ground with former fans who have walked away from him because of his outspoken left-leaning beliefs.
That was the heart of Springsteen’s answer when asked how he feels about fans who have become alienated due to his political stances. Bono posed the question about political expression and fans during a discussion at Tribeca Film Festival after Springsteen received the 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award.
“Do you feel torn at all by thinking that there’s people in this town that they used to come and see my shows that don’t now, or have you made peace with that?” Bono asked.
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Springsteen offered a measured response, imbuing his answer with themes of many of his songs – hope and faith. “You have to do two things,” he said. “You make your stand, and you follow your beliefs.”
Laying out a path for jilted fans to come back, Springsteen expanded on his viewpoint while explaining why he’s comfortable expressing opinions through his music and at concerts that he knows will make some listeners uncomfortable. “You have to have the faith in them (beliefs) that they will be explicable and understandable by your fellow citizens, and you have to believe that America is an argument, and it’s a compromise constantly, and then finding some sort of common ground is a possibility,” the songwriter explained.
Springsteen has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, particularly concerning his immigration policies and deployment of ICE agents. The Boss appeared at a No Kings protest in Minnesota following the killing of Alex Pretti and Renée Good by federal immigration agents just days before a concert in Minneapolis. At that concert, Springsteen excoriated Trump, telling the crowd the U.S. is “in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous administration” before declaring, “Tonight we ask all of you to join with us in choosing hope over fear democracy over authoritarianism, the rule of law over lawlessness, ethics over unbridled corruption, resistance over complacency, unity over division, and peace over war.” Trump didn’t like that use of the right to free expression and threw a fit.
Despite the polemic from the Boss, his continuous criticisms of Trump, and years of advocating for liberal causes, Springsteen insisted he’s not an activist at the Tribeca session. “I don’t even really consider myself an activist,” Springsteen said, adding he was a bit embarrassed to be receiving a social justice award because “I feel like I’m, at best, a concerned citizen . . . I sing my songs, I say a few things and wish for the best, you know, help folks out a little bit here and a little bit there.”
Springsteen joked with Bono, telling the U2 frontman that “You’re more of an activist,” and adding, “There’re so many people that do so much more than I do.”
Springsteen and the E Street Band wrapped up the “Land of Hope & Dreams Tour” in May. Springsteen is set to perform at Tom Morello’s Power to the People Festival, a one-day “non-partisan celebration of peace, justice, solidarity, music, and community action” taking place Saturday, October 3rd at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.
