White House Responds to New Track
The White House reacted strongly after Bruce Springsteen released a new song criticizing the Trump administration’s response to protests in Minneapolis. The track, titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” came out Wednesday. In it, the singer honors VA nurse Alex Pretti and unarmed mother Renee Good, both 37, who he says were killed by federal agents this month. The release drew attention in Washington as the artist, known for political themes, addressed the situation through music. The song quickly spread online and drew debate among listeners.
In a statement to Variety, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded to the song from the 20-time Grammy Award-winning artist by saying that the Trump administration was not concerned with “random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information.” Her remarks signaled a firm dismissal of the recording itself. Jackson told the outlet that the administration was instead focused on the operations by law enforcement to remove “dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities.”
Lyrics and Political Reaction
The lyrics to “Streets of Minneapolis” include “Two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.” Springsteen also sings, “King Trump’s private army from the DHS / Guns belted to their coats / Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law / Or so their story goes,” placing direct blame in the opening verse of the song. The lines frame the event as a show of force.
Jackson’s statement to Variety continued, “The media should cover how Democrats have refused to work with the Administration, and instead, opted to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegals.” Springsteen named members of the Trump administration in the track, citing “Miller and Noem’s dirty lies.” Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem have at times called Pretti and Good “domestic terrorists.” The dispute over the facts remains part of the wider debate.
Springsteen’s Message and Past Tensions
On the social media platform Bluesky, Springsteen said the single was “in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” and that “It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.” Trump has a history of being angered by Springsteen’s criticism and past public comments. He often speaks about social issues during tours and interviews.
Trump has previously attacked the rocker on Truth Social for Springsteen’s performance at former Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign rallies. He alleged that Springsteen took a bribe from Harris to perform and demanded a “major investigation” into the matter. He also called Springsteen a “dried-out ‘prune’ of a rocker,” in May 2025. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has long criticized Trump in interviews, on tour, and on his recent EP. His comments have followed him across several recent public appearances.
