Vedder Defends Springsteen After Trump Lashes Out: “This Is About Free Speech”

At the final show of the Dark Matter Tour in Pittsburgh, Eddie Vedder stands up for Bruce Springsteen against the president’s threats: “Free speech is non-negotiable. Music doesn’t back down.”

In a time when music and politics collide more than ever, Eddie Vedder has publicly stood by Bruce Springsteen after the legendary singer found himself under fire from President Donald Trump. The controversy erupted following the opening night of Springsteen’s Land of Hope and Dreams tour in Manchester, UK.

Never one to hold back his political views, Springsteen called out Trump onstage, accusing him of “betraying American workers, spreading hate and division, and selling out the soul of the nation for personal gain.” The crowd applauded, but the president did not take it lightly. On Truth Social, he fired back, calling Springsteen “a washed-up artist completely out of touch with real American values.”

Just a few days later, during Pearl Jam’s final show of the Dark Matter Tour at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 2025, Eddie Vedder broke his silence with a powerful statement in defense of The Boss.

“(Trump’s) response had nothing to do with the issues. 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 continued: “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.”

Just two nights before, on May 16 – also in Pittsburgh – Vedder paid tribute to Springsteen by performing a moving cover of My City of Ruins, a gesture that made his support crystal clear.

Vedder’s remarks reaffirmed his commitment to defending the right of artists to speak their minds. He reminded fans that music should never be silenced by politics, but instead, serve as a megaphone for civil rights and democracy.

This clash between art and power takes on a sharper edge as the 2026 midterm elections approach – elections that could reshape Congress and set the stage for the 2028 presidential race.

Several artists have rallied around Springsteen in the wake of the controversy. Patti Smith shared a photo with him captioned “Standing with the Boss,” while Neil Young, a longtime critic of Trump, voiced his support on his official website, calling Bruce “an honest voice in an America that’s increasingly confused and manipulated by propaganda.”

Rock’s old guard is closing ranks around a figure who, at over 70, remains a symbol of integrity and civic courage. And with Eddie Vedder leading the charge, the message is clear: music doesn’t back down.

Vedder and Springsteen go way back. They’ve shared the stage many times, including during the Vote for Change Tour in 2004 – a series of concerts organized by American musicians to mobilize voters against George W. Bush’s reelection. That tour was a peaceful, grassroots effort built on democratic values, proof that music can be a powerful force for change.

But even then – in a politically charged atmosphere – no U.S. president had ever stooped so low as to publicly attack an artist just for speaking their truth. Trump’s response sets a dangerous precedent, which makes Vedder’s words all the more vital: a call for courage, for dignity, and for the defense of something as simple – and essential – as freedom of speech.