{"id":119269,"date":"2025-05-21T08:05:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/119269\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T08:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:05:10","slug":"part-of-free-speech-is-open-discussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/119269\/","title":{"rendered":"Part of free speech is open discussion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eddie Vedder<\/a> defended Bruce Springsteen<\/a> in a mid-concert speech amid attacks on the singer-songwriter by Donald Trump<\/a> on Sunday night (May 18).<\/p>\n

The Pearl Jam<\/a> frontman spoke out in support of his friend during the band\u2019s show at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two days after covering Springsteen\u2019s 2002 track \u2018My City Of Ruins\u2019 at the same venue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Vedder said: \u201c[Trump\u2019s] response had nothing to do with the issues. They didn\u2019t talk about one of those issues, they didn\u2019t have a conversation about one of those issues. They didn\u2019t debate about any one of those issues. All that we heard were personal attacks and threats that nobody else should try to use their microphones or voice in public or they\u2019ll be shut down.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cNow that\u2019s not allowed in this country that we call America. 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 as pro-American with his values and liberty, and his justice has always remained intact. And I\u2019m saying this now to be sure this freedom to speak will still exist in a year or two when we come back to this microphone.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Springsteen called Trump\u2019s administration \u201ccorrupt, incompetent, and treasonous\u201d<\/a> during a show at Manchester\u2019s Co-op Live on May 14.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cIn my home, the America I love, the America I\u2019ve written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

In response, the President described him as a \u201cdried out \u2018prune\u2019\u201d who \u201cought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

The American Federation of Musicians responded to Trump\u2019s comments about both Springsteen and Taylor Swift<\/a> \u2013 he wrote \u201cHas anyone noticed that, since I said \u2018I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,\u2019 she\u2019s no longer \u2018HOT?\u2019\u201d on Truth Social last week \u2013 with the organisation\u2019s president Tino Gagliardi saying: \u201cMusicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members.\u201d<\/p>\n

Springsteen wasn\u2019t deterred by Trump\u2019s words \u2013 at his second Co-op Live show, he went on a three-minute speech against the politician<\/a>, saying: \u201cThings are happening right now that are altering the very nature of our country\u2019s democracy, and they\u2019re too important to ignore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since then, Trump has called for an investigation into Springsteen<\/a>, who he claims was paid by Kamala Harris<\/a> for his \u201cPOOR PERFORMANCE DURING HER CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT,\u201d while he also criticised other artists, including Bono<\/a> and Beyonc\u00e9<\/a>, in a run of Truth Social posts.<\/p>\n

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While Springsteen has been in the UK, meanwhile, he made headlines for dining at a Yorkshire restaurant<\/a> alongside actor Stephen Graham<\/a>. Norman\u2019s Restaurant, in Kirkburton, Huddersfield, shared an image of the pair alongside their staff on Instagram, writing: \u201cAbsolutely honoured to have these two absolute legends over for a spot of lunch. Can think of worse ways to start the weekend!\u201d<\/p>\n