Bruce Springsteen Calls Donald Trump's Actions Toward Migrants a 'Crime Against Humanity'

Bruce Springsteen has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. Now he's calling out the 45th president's actions, which he's boldly called "a crime against humanity."

In a newly released interview with Esquire, Springsteen addressed his disdain for Trump. The 69-year-old "Born in the U.S.A." rocker suggested the former reality star was purposefully encouraging a divided nation.

"[Trump] has no interest in uniting the country, really, and actually has an interest in doing the opposite and dividing us, which he does on an almost daily basis," Springsteen told Esquire. "So that's simply a crime against humanity, as far as I'm concerned. It's an awful, awful message to send out into the world if you're in that job and in that position. It's just an ugly, awful message."

Springsteen continued, "You are intentionally trying to disenfranchise a large portion of Americans. I mean, you are simply...that's unforgivable."

Bruce Springsteen Talks Trump in Esquire Interview
In a new interview, singer Bruce Springsteen suggested President Trump was helping to promote a divided nation. Here, Springsteen is pictured performing on stage as The New York Comedy Festival and The Bob Woodruff Foundation... Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Bob Woodruff Foundation

Springsteen is a vocal Democrat. He's been known to speak on political issues in many of his songs, including "Death To My Hometown" and "Lost In The Flood." He supported former Senator John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election against George W. Bush, which he deemed "the most important election of our lifetime." He even played in support of former President Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic National Convention and later during a farewell to his presidency in January 2017.

Springsteen's interview with Esquire comes after Trump deployed more than 5,000 troops to the border in an attempt to halt migrants from entering the United States from Mexico. Many migrants were attacked by U.S. Border Patrol agents with tear gas, which Fox News contributor Tomi Lahren later referred to the incident via Twitter as the "highlight" of her Thanksgiving weekend.

Trump, in turn, continued to back the blocking of migrants. On Monday, he claimed on Twitter many of the migrants were "stone cold criminals" who needed to go "back to their countries." He also suggested the U.S. would "close the Border permanently if need be" while pushing for Congress to "fund the wall."

This wouldn't be the first time Springsteen has spoken out against Trump. Before the 2016 presidential election period concluded, he called Trump "a moron" who would prove to be a "tragedy for our democracy."

"The ideas he's moving to the mainstream are all very dangerous ideas—white nationalism and the alt-right movement," Springsteen told Rolling Stone in September 2016. "The outrageous things that he's done – not immediately disavowing David Duke? These are things that are obviously beyond the pale for any previous political candidate. It would sink your candidacy immediately."

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Dory Jackson is a New York-based entertainment journalist from Maryland. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College—in May 2016—with a focus in Communication ... Read more

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