Springsteen vs. Trump: The Rumor Mill

The Springsteen-Trump Saga: A Battle of Words and a Breeding Ground for Rumors

Bruce Springsteen, a globally recognized musical icon and long-time political activist, has been locked in a contentious relationship with former President Donald Trump for years. Their feud, characterized by mutual criticism, has unfortunately become fertile ground for the spread of misinformation and outlandish rumors.

Springsteen has consistently voiced his disapproval of Trump since his initial election in 2016, openly supporting his political rivals. He hasn’t hesitated to use his platform to denounce what he views as the divisive nature of Trump’s politics. Trump, in turn, has responded with personal attacks and dismissive remarks.

This high-profile clash has not only fueled debate but has also made Springsteen a target for fabricated stories, often amplified by supporters of the former president. These rumors reached a fever pitch in May 2025, following Springsteen’s scathing criticism of the administration during a concert in Manchester, England. He described the American government as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous.”

Trump swiftly retaliated on his social media platform, launching into a tirade against Springsteen. He labeled him “Highly Overrated” and criticized his music and political views, adding a personal jab about Springsteen’s appearance. This escalation of the feud unleashed a torrent of baseless rumors.

Debunked: Springsteen and Swift’s Non-Existent Duet

One particularly pervasive rumor involved a supposed joint performance by Springsteen and Taylor Swift, framed as an act of defiance against Trump. A Facebook post, accompanied by photos allegedly from the event, claimed the duet was a powerful statement of solidarity. However, this story was completely fabricated.

Fact-checking organizations debunked the claims, revealing that the photos were taken from separate events. The image of Swift was from a concert in Buenos Aires in 2023, while the Springsteen photos were from different shows in 2022 and 2023. The likelihood of such a significant collaboration going unreported by mainstream media further discredited the story. The post originated from a Facebook page known for sharing AI-generated content and fabricated stories.

The “Boss” and the “Law”: A Satirical Quote Gone Viral

Another bizarre rumor involved Pam Bondi, a former attorney general, supposedly claiming that Springsteen was breaking the law by calling himself “The Boss.” A doctored screenshot of a fake Fox News broadcast circulated online, falsely quoting Bondi as saying it was illegal to use the nickname if one wasn’t in charge of the entire country.

The image, initially shared as satire on Facebook, quickly went viral. Many users, failing to recognize the humorous intent, took the quote at face value. The creator of the image later clarified that it was a joke, but the fake quote continued to circulate, highlighting the ease with which misinformation can spread online.

No Canceled Concerts: Joel Stands by Springsteen

A further fabricated story claimed that Billy Joel had canceled concerts with Springsteen due to the latter’s criticism of Trump. The story, shared on Facebook, quoted Joel as declaring that “Music and politics don’t mix.”

While Joel has expressed his own political views and even criticized Trump in the past, he has also praised Springsteen for his political activism. This inconsistency, coupled with the source of the story being a known satirical page, quickly exposed the rumor as false. The Facebook page in question, while claiming to be satirical, often publishes content that blurs the line between satire and inflammatory fake news.

Jeep’s Departure: More Than Just Politics

The rumor mill also churned out a story claiming that Springsteen had lost a lucrative advertising deal with Jeep because of his anti-Trump remarks. The post, shared widely on social media, quoted Jeep as saying their brand stood for “American unity, not divisiveness.”

The truth is more nuanced. Springsteen did appear in a Jeep commercial during the Super Bowl in 2021, promoting unity and finding common ground. However, the commercial was pulled shortly after reports surfaced of Springsteen’s arrest for driving while intoxicated. It was this legal issue, not his political views, that led to the end of his association with Jeep. The false story about Jeep dropping Springsteen over his Trump comments originated from the same “satirical” page responsible for the Billy Joel rumor.

No Exodus: Springsteen Remains in the USA

Finally, a post circulated shortly after Trump’s 2024 election victory, claiming that Springsteen and Robert De Niro were planning to leave the United States. The article alleged that they held a joint press conference to announce their decision to relocate to Italy and collaborate on a documentary.

This story was entirely false. The website and Facebook group that shared the article both labeled it as satire, but many users still believed it to be true. While Springsteen has joked about leaving the country if Trump were re-elected, he made no such comments following the 2024 election.

These incidents demonstrate how easily misinformation can spread, particularly when fueled by political divisions. The Springsteen-Trump feud has become a case study in the dangers of fake news and the importance of verifying information before sharing it online.