Bruce Springsteen released a new song on Wednesday titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” using it to criticize Donald Trump’s anti-immigration policies in the wake of two fatal shootings involving federal agents in the northern U.S. metropolis.
The American rock icon, a longstanding and outspoken critic of the president, indicated that the track was conceived, recorded, and shared within a matter of days as a reaction to what he described as state violence unfolding in Minneapolis.
The city has become a focal point of national tension following the killing on Saturday of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, only weeks after Rene Good, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
Springsteen, best known for anthems such as “Born in the U.S.A.,” said the song was dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, to innocent immigrant neighbors, and to the memory of the two victims.
For five decades, Springsteen has been widely regarded as a voice for marginalized America and has consistently challenged Trump and his administration. During the 2024 election campaign, he argued that Trump lacked an understanding of the country, its history, and the true meaning of being American.
The title of the new track deliberately echoes Springsteen’s earlier and iconic “Streets of Philadelphia,” written about those living with AIDS. Trump, for his part, has frequently dismissed the musician in disparaging terms, describing him as overrated.
