President Donald Trump has accused Bruce Springsteen of orchestrating an "illegal election scam" after the rock legend criticized his administration for being "corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous" during a concert in Manchester, England.
At two sold-out shows at Co-op Live in Manchester on May 14 and 17, Springsteen delivered a searing indictment of Trump's presidency, calling on audiences to "stand with us against authoritarianism," USA Today reported.
The remarks were met with applause overseas, but triggered a furious response from Trump, who posted on Truth Social questioning if Springsteen's previous endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris constituted an "illegal campaign contribution."
"HOW MUCH DID KAMALA HARRIS PAY BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT? WHY DID HE ACCEPT THAT MONEY IF HE IS SUCH A FAN OF HERS? ISN'T THAT A MAJOR AND ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION?" Trump wrote.
Trump then escalated the rhetoric in another post Monday morning, alleging that the singer's statements, as well as other celebrities who endorsed Harris like Beyoncé and Oprah, were part of an "illegal election scam," though no evidence was provided to support the claim.
"Dollars for doing nothing other than giving Kamala a full throated ENDORSEMENT. THIS IS AN ILLEGAL ELECTION SCAM AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL! IT IS AN ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION! BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, OPRAH, BONO AND, PERHAPS, MANY OTHERS, HAVE A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO!!!" he said.
Trump's comments drew backlash from artists and unions alike. Pearl Jam and Jason Isbell publicly backed Springsteen through recent musical tributes, while the American Federation of Musicians issued a formal statement defending both Springsteen and Taylor Swift—another artist recently insulted by Trump.
"The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada will not remain silent as two of our members − Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift − are singled out and personally attacked by the President of the United States," the group said.
"Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift are not just brilliant musicians, they are role models and inspirations to millions of people in the United States and across the world. ... Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members," the organization continued.
The union emphasized that freedom of expression is a core American value, especially for artists.
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