Eddie Vedder Trashes Donald Trump Amid President's Bruce Springsteen Feud
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Eddie Vedder has appeared to trash Donald Trump over the president's feud with Bruce Springsteen.
The Pearl Jam frontman made a series of comments about the need to defend free speech and speak up about issues, calling Springsteen "a true American," and referencing the rocker's clashes with Trump during a tour appearance.
Why It Matters
The president and Springsteen have since last week escalated tensions in a series of back and forth jibes. It started when the rocker denounced the administration in the opening remarks of his tour in Manchester, England, on Wednesday night.
He said Trump was "an unfit president" who was in charge of "a rogue government" that was "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous."
This resulted in the president calling Springsteen "a pushy, obnoxious JERK" and a "dried-out 'prune' of a rocker" on his social media platform, Truth Social, in response. Then, during another tour appearance, Springsteen criticized the Trump administration again.
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performs during the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam performs during the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP
What To Know
Now, Vedder has weighed in on the drama during the final night of Pearl Jam's Dark Matter tour on Sunday.
"He brought up issues," he said, summarizing the criticisms Springsteen had made about the Trump administration.
"The response had nothing to do with the issues," he said, not referencing Trump by name but appearing to refer to Trump's response to Springsteen.
"All that we heard were personal attacks and threats," he said.
"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 a true American with his values of freedom and liberty and his justice has always remained in tact," he said.
"This freedom to speak will still exist in another year or two when we come back to this microphone."
Here's Eddie Vedder in Pittsburgh last night, responding to the Trump administration's reaction to Bruce Springsteen's recent comments. pic.twitter.com/QoIZTbQJ7w — Ian Shantz (@IanShantz) May 19, 2025
Previously, he honored Springsteen by covering his ballad "My City of Ruins" during a Friday gig.
What People Are Saying
Bruce Springsteen, speaking at his concert: "In my country they're taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers. They're rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society. They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom. They are defunding American universities that won't bow down to their ideological demands."
Republican California governor candidate Steve Hilton wrote on X: "I may not have been 'born in the USA' like Bruce Springsteen, but I moved here and became an American by choice. So I'm disgusted to see him running around England criticizing our country. Maybe he should stay there!"
What Happens Next
Meanwhile, Trump has called for a "major investigation" into celebrities who aided Kamala Harris' 2024 election campaign, including Springsteen, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey and Bono, claiming campaign performances were akin to potentially illegal contributions.
He has also slammed Taylor Swift, declaring she is "no longer hot."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
19 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
I regret some of my posts about President Trump: Elon Musk expresses regret
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 11, 2025, 12:44 IST In what appears to be a shift in tone, Elon Musk on Tuesday posted that he regrets some of his recent remarks about President Donald Trump, saying, 'They went too far.' I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 11, 2025 This comes just days after Trump addressed their ongoing feud, stating he wished Musk 'very well' and suggesting the tech mogul might be seeking a conversation. In a gesture that caught attention, Musk had responded with a heart emoji on X (formerly Twitter), sparking speculation about a possible reconciliation. Tensions between the two escalated last week after Musk called Trump's proposed 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' a 'pork-filled abomination' and accused the President of suppressing Jeffrey Epstein-related files. The latter post, which Musk later deleted, reportedly infuriated Trump, who retaliated with harsh criticism and even threatened to sever government contracts with Musk-led firms. The feud intensified when Musk countered by threatening to halt NASA-linked SpaceX missions and claimed Trump would have lost the 2024 election without his support. He also floated the possibility of impeachment. However, Musk's latest message—posted at 12:34 PM on June 11—marks a notable departure from his confrontational stance, possibly signaling the beginning of a de-escalation. While no official conversation has been confirmed, both camps appear to be softening their positions, leaving the door open for future dialogue. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Newsweek
20 minutes ago
- Newsweek
China Releases Photos of Aircraft Carriers Beyond First Island Chain
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China released photos showing its aircraft carriers conducting "training exercises" in the western Pacific beyond the first island chain, which is intended to keep its navy in check. "The training complies with relevant international law and practice, and is not targeted at specific countries or entity," a Chinese navy spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday. Why It Matters The first island chain—comprising Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines—is one of three Pacific island defense lines established by the United States, utilizing its own territories as well as those of its allies and partners, with the goal of restricting China's naval activities. The Chinese navy, the largest in the world by hull count, deployed its aircraft carriers—CNS Liaoning and CNS Shandong—to the eastern side of the first island chain simultaneously for the first time over the weekend, challenging the U.S.'s naval dominance in the region. Meanwhile, the Liaoning became China's first aircraft carrier to be spotted operating in waters east of the second island chain, which stretches from Japan to New Guinea—north of Australia—via Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory that serves as a military hub. What To Know Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng, a spokesperson for the Chinese navy, confirmed in the statement that both the Liaoning and the Shandong had been deployed to the western Pacific Ocean in recent days to test their capabilities in "far-sea defense and joint operations." The spokesperson said the dual aircraft carrier deployment was a "routine arrangement included in the annual training plan," which sought to improve the ability of the Chinese navy—officially known as the People's Liberation Army Navy—to fulfill its missions. Chinese aircraft carriers CNS Liaoning, top, and CNS Shandong, bottom, conducting flight operations with J-15 fighter jets in the western Pacific Ocean in early June. Chinese aircraft carriers CNS Liaoning, top, and CNS Shandong, bottom, conducting flight operations with J-15 fighter jets in the western Pacific Ocean in early June. Chinese military Official photos show both Chinese aircraft carriers launching J-15 fighter jets at an undisclosed location in the western Pacific Ocean during both day and night. A supply ship attached to one of the aircraft carriers was seen providing supplies to a destroyer. However, it remains unclear whether the Liaoning and the Shandong were operating in the same vicinity. They were last tracked underway on the eastern and western sides of the second island chain, respectively, according to a map published by Newsweek. Japan, a U.S. ally that tracks and monitors the Chinese navy, has made a "proper request" to China through diplomatic channels regarding the activities of the Chinese aircraft carriers, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said at a news conference on Tuesday. The Chinese supply ship CNS Hulunhu providing supplies to the destroyer CNS Wuxi in the western Pacific Ocean in early June. The Chinese supply ship CNS Hulunhu providing supplies to the destroyer CNS Wuxi in the western Pacific Ocean in early June. Chinese military "China intends to improve the operational capability of its two aircraft carriers and its ability to conduct operations in distant seas and airspace," the minister said, adding that Japan had both the will and the ability to deter unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force. What People Are Saying Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday: "Let me reiterate that Chinese naval vessels' activities in those waters are fully consistent with international law and international practices. Our national defense policy is defensive in nature. We hope Japan will view those activities objectively and rationally." Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said on Tuesday: "In any case, the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to closely monitor the movements of the Chinese Navy vessels, including these two aircraft carriers, and will take all possible measures to conduct surveillance activities." What Happens Next China's dual aircraft carrier deployment comes as two U.S. aircraft carriers—USS Nimitz and USS George Washington—are underway in separate areas of the western Pacific Ocean.
22 minutes ago
Trump's actions in Los Angeles spur debate over deportation funds in his 'big, beautiful' bill
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' in Congress includes more than tax breaks and spending cuts — it also seeks to pour billions of dollars into the administration's mass deportation agenda. Republican leaders capitalized Tuesday on the demonstrations in Los Angeles, where people are protesting Trump's immigration raids at Home Depot and other places, to make the case for swift passage of their sprawling 1,000-plus-page bill over staunch Democratic opposition. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers 'much-needed reinforcements,' including 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, $45 billion to expand migrant detention facilities and billions more to carry out at least 1 million deportations a year. 'All you have to do is look at what's happening in Los Angeles to realize that our law enforcement needs all the support that we can possibly give them,' said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. The focus on some $350 billion in national security funding comes as action on the massive package is lumbering along in Congress at a critical moment. Trump wants the bill on his desk by the Fourth of July. But Senate Republicans trying to heave it to passage without Democrats are also running up against objections from within their GOP ranks over the details. At the same time, Democrats are warning that Trump's executive reach into California — sending in the National Guard over the governor's objections and calling up the Marines — is inflaming tensions in what had been isolated protests in pockets of LA. They warned the president's heavy-handed approach has the potential to spread, if unchecked, to other communities nationwide. 'We are at a dangerous inflection point in our country,' said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents the Los Angeles area. 'Trump created this political distraction to divide us and keep our focus away from his policies that are wreaking havoc on our economy and hurting working families," he said. "It's a deliberate attempt by Trump to incite unrest, test the limits of executive power and distract from the lawlessness of his administration.' At its core, the bill extends some $4.5 trillion in existing tax breaks that would otherwise expire at the end of the year without action in Congress, cutting some $1.4 trillion in spending over the decade to help offset costs. The Congressional Budget Office found the bill's changes to Medicaid and other programs would leave an estimated 10.9 million more people without health insurance and at least 3 million each month without food stamps from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. At the same time, CBO said the package will add some $2.4 trillion to deficits over the decade. One emerging area of concern for Republican leaders has been the bill's status before the Senate parliamentarian's office, which assesses whether the package complies with the strict rules used for legislation under the so-called budget reconciliation process. Late Monday, Republicans acknowledged potential 'red flags' coming from the parliamentarian's office that will require changes in the House bill before it can be sent to the Senate. Leaders are using the reconciliation process because it allows for simple majority passage in both chambers, were GOP majorities are razor-thin. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Republicans are preparing to address the concerns with a vote in the House, possibly as soon as this week, to change the package. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer seized on the House's upcoming do-over vote as a chance for Republicans who are dissatisfied with the package to reassert their leverage and 'force the bill back to the drawing board.' 'They say they don't like parts of the bill — now is their opportunity to change it,' Schumer said. On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance was dispatched to speak with one GOP holdout, Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who has pushed for deeper spending reductions in the bill to prevent skyrocketing deficits from adding to the nation's $36 trillion debt load. Other Republican senators have raised concerns about the health care cuts. But Republicans are in agreement on border security, deportation and military funding, over the objections of Democrats who fought vigorously during the committee process to strip those provisions from the bill. The package includes about $150 billion for border security and deportation operations, including funding for hiring 10,000 new ICE officers — with what Johnson said are $10,000 hiring bonuses — as well as 3,000 new Border Patrol agents and other field operations and support staff. There's also funding for a daily detention capacity for 100,000 migrants and for flights for 1 million deportations annually. The package includes $46 billion for construction of Trump's long promised wall between the U.S.-Mexico border. Additionally, the bill includes $150 billion for the Pentagon, with $5 billion for the military deployment in support of border security, along with nearly $25 billion for Trump's 'Golden Dome' defense system over the U.S. Separately, the bill adds another $21 billion for the Coast Guard. Democrats have argued against the deportations, and warned that Trump appears to be stirring up protests so he can clamp down on migrant communities. Rep. Nanette Barragan — whose district represents the suburban city of Paramount, where the weekend Home Depot raid touched off protests — implored Americans: 'Listen to the words of this administration: They're using words like insurrection. They're using words like invasion.' She warned the administration is laying the groundwork for even steeper actions. 'That's a concern,' she said. 'That is dangerous. It's wrong.'
