Bruce Springsteen slammed President Donald Trump and the U.S. Justice Department for a fund that is set to provide almost $1.8 billion to, among others, those who participated in the infamous January 6 Capitol Riots.
Months after the 6th anniversary of the insurrection, where protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol in protest of former president Joe Biden being elected, Springsteen expressed disappointment with the fund during a recent concert in Washington, D.C.
The $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund is intended to be distributed to purported “targets” who claim to have suffered as “victims of lawfare and weaponization.” Many people involved in the January 6 riots are already expecting payments from the fund, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has refused to rule out the possibility.
A federal judge has halted the fund’s creation and a June 12 hearing has been scheduled over whether the pause should be extended.
During the D.C. concert on Wednesday (May 27), Springsteen stated that President Trump wanted to “compensate and reward people who attacked our nation’s Capitol.”
“[They] attacked our democracy. Assaulted our police officers on Jan 6. This is an American outrage, and this is happening now. This American tragedy can only be stopped by the American people,” the 20-time Grammy winner continued.
Springsteen concluded by saying that “no one’s coming to save us.”
“We’ve got to do it ourselves,” he said. “Let them hear you at the fucking White House!”
The rocker has had set lists heavy on political songs and has made anti-Trump speeches throughout his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour. Along with performing his decades-spanning catalog live, including new anti-ICE song “Streets of Minneapolis,” the musician has covered Edwin Starr's "War” and Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom.” The tour ends on Saturday (May 30) in Philadelphia.
