Eddie Vedder, Neil Young Back Bruce Springsteen After Trump Meltdown: “Thousands Of Musicians Think You Are Ruining America”

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Neil Young have gone to bat for Bruce Springsteen, taking aim at Donald Trump amid political backlash.

Eddie Vedder and Neil Young have thrown their weight behind Bruce Springsteen after Donald Trump ramped up his public crusade against outspoken musicians.

Young took to his website, Neil Young Archives, to defend Springsteen as Trump demands a “major investigation” after the musician criticised the US President on-stage.

“Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin’ kids in Gaza,” Young wrote. “That’s your problem. I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us. You shut down FEMA when we needed it most. That’s your problem Trump. STOP THINKING ABOUT WHAT ROCKERS ARE SAYING. Think about saving America from the mess you made. Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel.”

“You are more worried about yourself than AMERICA. Wake up Trump!! Remember what the White House is?”

Young isn’t the only one taking Trump to task over his comments, though. During Pearl Jam’s recent show in Pittsburgh, Vedder paused mid-set to deliver a blunt message in support of his long-time friend. It came just days after he’d covered Springsteen’s My City of Ruins at the same venue, and right as Trump was busy taking shots at The Boss for speaking out on stage.

“[Trump’s] response had nothing to do with the issues,” Vedder told the crowd. “They didn’t talk about one of those issues, they didn’t have a conversation about one of those issues. They didn’t debate about any one of those issues. All that we heard were personal attacks and threats that nobody else should try to use their microphones or voice in public or they’ll be shut down.”

He didn’t stop there, adding, “Now that’s not allowed in this country that we call America. Part of free speech is open discussion. Part of democracy is healthy public discourse. The name-calling is so beneath us. Bruce has always been as pro-American with his values and liberty, and his justice has always remained intact. And I’m saying this now to be sure this freedom to speak will still exist in a year or two when we come back to this microphone.”

The whole saga kicked off last week in Manchester, when Springsteen made it clear how he feels about the current political climate in the US. On stage, he described Trump’s administration as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous” – prompting the former president to throw a tantrum on Truth Social, where he referred to Springsteen as a “dried out ‘prune’” who “ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT.”

Of course, it didn’t stop there. Trump also fired off takes about Beyoncé, Bono and Taylor Swift, before alleging that artists including Springsteen were illegally paid to endorse Kamala Harris and calling for an investigation. The American Federation of Musicians clapped back, stating: “Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members.”

It’s nothing new to see musicians like Springsteen clash with politicians, but Vedder’s mid-show moment and Young’s post serve as a reminder that free speech doesn’t just apply to those in office. As artists continue using their platforms to speak out, it’s clear the fight for that right is far from over.