Neil Young, one of Donald Trump‘s most vocal critics in the music industry, weighed in on the president’s online fight with Bruce Springsteen and other musicians this week, thanking Springsteen for speaking up while encouraging the world’s most powerful person to focus on more pressing issues at hand than what recording artists say about him.
“Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America. You worry about that instead of the dyin’ kids in Gaza,” Young wrote on his website late Monday. “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.”
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Trump’s fight with Springsteen started last Friday, after Springsteen criticized the Trump administration during a concert in the U.K., saying that the U.S. is “currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration.” Trump responded with a rant on Truth Social, calling Springsteen a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker” and vaguely threatening that Springsteen “ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare’. Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!”
Aside from Springsteen, Trump also posted about Taylor Swift last Friday, claiming her popularity dipped after he said he hated her. “Taylor Swift is right. So is Bruce. You know how I feel,” Young wrote. “You are more worried about yourself than AMERICA. Wake up Trump!! Remember what the White House is?”
Springsteen, for his part, was unmoved by Trump’s words, criticizing him again during the next show. By Monday, the president posted another long-winded rant, calling for an investigation into appearances from musicians like Springsteen, Beyoncé and Bono at Kamala Harris’ presidential rallies, claiming without citing evidence that they took money in exchange for endorsements.
“Remember what the White House is? 86/47??? That’s what you think about,” Young further wrote, seeming to reference the White House response to a James Comey Instagram post last week. “You are forgetting your real job. You work for us. Wake up Republicans! This guy is out of control. We need a real president!”
Young has never shied from making his disdain for Trump clear. Back in April, he posted a message voicing his concern that Trump would bar him from returning to the U.S. after his upcoming European tour this summer due to his words about the president. Later that month, he also performed alongside Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers at a Bernie Sanders rally in Los Angeles.
In a separate post on his site, Young shared a video of Springsteen criticizing the Trump administration during a concert, writing “THANKS BRUCE” in the headline.
“As a Canadian-American dual citizen, I stand with the great majority, thanking you for speaking so eloquently and truthfully on behalf of the American people,” Young said. “We are with you my old friend. Your great songs of America ring true as you sing them to Europe and the world!”
