Watch Bruce Springsteen sing Happy Birthday to Bob Benjamin on LOD.
Bruce Springsteen and fellow musicians sing Happy Birthday to Bob Benjamin in the sunlight at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on January 17, 2026.
The boss lowered the boom.
Bruce Springsteen criticized the Trump administration’s deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to Minneapolis and the shooting death of Renee Good by ICE agents in comments made at his Main Event show Light of Day Winterfest in New Jersey on Saturday, January 17th.
“I wrote this song as an ode to American potential,” Springsteen said while introducing “A Promised Land.” “It was a story about a beautiful but flawed country, and the kind of country we could become. We live in incredibly critical times right now. America, the ideals and values that it has stood for for the past 250 years, are being tested like never before in our time.”
The audience applauded.
“These values and ideals have never been more at risk than they are now,” Springsteen said. “So tonight, as we gather together in this beautiful expression of love and care and thoughtfulness and community, if you believe in democracy and freedom and believe that truth still matters, then you must speak out, and it is worth fighting for.”
He continued. “If you believe in the power of the law and believe that no one is above the law. If you oppose heavily armed, masked federal troops invading American cities using Gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens. If you believe that you don’t deserve to be killed for exercising America’s right to protest, then send a message to this president that, as the mayor of that city said, ICE should get the motherfuckers out of Minneapolis.”
An even louder cheer rose from the audience. Springsteen’s comments echoed statements made by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey after ICE agents shot and killed Good, a 37-year-old woman. The Department of Homeland Security said the officer acted in self-defense.
“This song is in memory of you and Renee Goode, an American mother of three,” Springsteen said, playing the opening notes of “Promised Land” on his harmonica.
Springsteen’s intro is similar to the Democracy Speech The Boss gave during the E Street Band’s European tour last year, which also criticized the Trump administration.
“In my homeland, the America I love, the America I have written about for 250 years as a beacon of hope and freedom, is now in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous regime,” Springsteen said earlier on stage in England.
President Donald Trump responded by attacking Springsteen several times on social media, including sharing a meme depicting Trump hitting a golf ball and punching Springsteen on stage. Speaking to Time magazine in September, Springsteen said he “doesn’t really care” what President Trump thinks about him.
Light of Day, supported by Springsteen, raises funds and awareness in the fight against Parkinson’s disease and related illnesses. According to Light of Day history, Springsteen was not the announced artist for Saturday’s show, which featured performances by Gary “US” Bonds, Low Cut Connie’s Adam Weiner, Dramarama, Remember Jones, Fantastic Cat, Williams Honor, James Maddock, Joe Durso and the Stone Caravan, and Will Nile.
Contributor: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
