You know, it’s funny how some people in the limelight just can’t seem to take an ‘L’ with a bit of grace. When their political team doesn’t clinch the win, instead of a quiet reflection or maybe, just maybe, considering why half the country went a different way, they grab the nearest microphone. It’s almost a reflex, a desperate need to tell everyone who didn’t ask that the sky is, in fact, falling, and it’s all because their preferred candidate isn’t in charge.

And then there’s that peculiar habit of taking the grievances global. Instead of hashing things out here at home, they jet off to foreign lands to air their dirty laundry, as if people in Manchester or Milan are just dying for a lecture on American politics from a rock star. One has to wonder if it’s for the benefit of the international audience, or perhaps just a louder, more dramatic cry for attention when the Americans back home might be, shall we say, a tad tired of the tune.

Speaking of taking your show on the road, sometimes quite literally, enter Bruce Springsteen. “The Boss,” as he’s known, recently decided his European tour was the perfect venue to unload on President Trump and the good ol’ USA. On stage in Manchester, England, no less, Springsteen reportedly dedicated a song to “Dear Leader” – a charming little nod to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un – while labeling the United States government as “rogue.” Classy stuff when you’re enjoying the hospitality of another nation.

The Boss’s Bitter Ballad of Grievances

It wasn’t just a one-off comment, either. Springsteen apparently doubled down on his criticisms, painting a rather bleak picture of the homeland. According to Breitbart News, which has been tracking this overseas lament, Springsteen unleashed a torrent of accusations. He wailed about America being in the hands of a “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.” But wait, there’s more. He also claimed that in America, “they’re persecuting people for their right to free speech and voicing their dissent.”

It’s quite the performance. From Breitbart News, we get a fuller taste of his on-stage monologue:

From ‘Breitbart News’:

“Things are happening right now that are altering the very nature of our country’s democracy, and they’re too important to ignore” Springsteen said. “But in America, my home they’re persecuting people for their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. That’s happening now.”

“In America, the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death. That’s happening now,” he continued. “In my country, they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers. They’re rolling back historic Civil Rights legislation that led to a more just society. They’re abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those who are struggling for their freedoms.”

He even accused the U.S. government of “deporting foreigners without due process and defunding universities for hosting different opinions.” One might think he was describing a completely different country than the one that made him a multi-millionaire global icon.

Trump Delivers a Masterclass in Response

Well, you can bet President Donald Trump wasn’t going to let those comments slide, especially when delivered on foreign soil. The White House, through Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers, fired back with precision. Rogers noted that the “77 million Americans that elected President Trump disagree with elitist and out-of-touch celebrities like Bruce Springsteen,” adding, “Bruce is welcome to stay overseas while hardworking Americans enjoy a secure border and cooling inflation thanks to President Trump.” Ouch.

But President Trump, in his signature style, had his own, shall we say, more colorful take. According to reports from USA Today and The Hollywood Reporter, Trump took to Truth Social to label Springsteen “Highly Overrated” and “not a talented guy – just a pushy, obnoxious JERK.” He didn’t stop there, calling Springsteen a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!)” and suggested he “ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country… Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!” It seems “The Boss” met his match when it comes to blunt commentary.

Just Stick to the Music, Bruce?

Naturally, the usual suspects in the entertainment world rushed to Springsteen’s defense. The American Federation of Musicians even issued a statement of support, lumping him in with Taylor Swift, who had also apparently drawn the President’s ire. It’s the classic echo chamber, where out-of-touch elites validate each other’s grievances, far removed from the concerns of everyday, hardworking Americans.

At the end of the day, it’s another chapter in the saga of celebrities who just can’t seem to accept that their political views aren’t universally shared or that, perhaps, their fans come to hear “Born to Run,” not a lecture on why the country that gave them everything is supposedly circling the drain. Maybe it’s just a case of a bitter loser, upset that his candidate didn’t win, using his platform to vent rather than, say, write a song about it.

Key Takeaways:

• Springsteen attacked America abroad, revealing his elite, out-of-touch stance.
• Trump forcefully defended America, rebuking celebrity anti-American sentiment.
• Elites again prioritize global praise over core American values and citizens.

Sources: Breitbart, USA TODAY, The Hollywood Reporter