Bruce Springsteen Kicks Off Tour with Defiant Minneapolis Show

The Boss denounces Trump administration's immigration crackdown and honors victims of federal violence.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:30pm

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Bruce Springsteen launched his latest U.S. tour with a nearly 3-hour show at Minneapolis' Target Center, where he delivered a defiant performance denouncing the Trump administration's immigration policies and honoring victims of federal violence in the city. Springsteen opened with a scathing critique of the 'corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous administration' before launching into his classic 'War' and leading the crowd in chants of 'ICE Out Now'.

Why it matters

Springsteen has long used his platform to speak out against injustice, and his decision to kick off this tour in Minneapolis - where thousands of federal agents were deployed in a major immigration crackdown - underscores his commitment to defending American democracy and standing up for marginalized communities.

The details

Springsteen performed a solo version of his new song 'Streets of Minneapolis,' which he wrote in January following the police killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. He led the crowd in four chants of the song's refrain, 'ICE Out Now,' as the house lights came up. The show also featured a cover of Prince's 'Purple Rain' and a tribute to the late Minneapolis-born superstar.

  • Springsteen kicked off his 'Land of Hope & Dreams American Tour' at the Target Center on Tuesday night.
  • He previously performed a solo version of 'Streets of Minneapolis' at a rally in St. Paul on Saturday.

The players

Bruce Springsteen

A legendary singer-songwriter who has used his music to advocate for social and political causes for over 50 years.

Renee Good

A Minneapolis resident who was killed by federal officers during the immigration crackdown in the city.

Alex Pretti

A Minneapolis resident who was also killed by federal officers during the immigration crackdown in the city.

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What they’re saying

“We are here in celebration and defense of our American ideals. Democracy, our Constitution and our sacred American promise, the America that I love, the America that I've written about for 50 years, that's been a beacon of hope and liberty around the world, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless, and treasonous administration.”

— Bruce Springsteen

“The solidarity of the people of Minneapolis, of Minnesota, was an inspiration to the entire country.”

— Bruce Springsteen

What’s next

Springsteen's tour will next head to Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, 'two other cities where they had to deal with ICE, ICE's terror.' It ends on May 27 in Washington, D.C., where he said he'll have a 'few choice words for the White House.'

The takeaway

Springsteen's defiant Minneapolis show underscores his longstanding commitment to using his platform to speak out against injustice and defend American democracy, even in the face of a 'corrupt, incompetent, racist' administration.