Bruce Springsteen Called Trump “Treasonous.” Trump Proved Him Right.

Summary

Bulwark Takes: Episode Summary Title: Bruce Springsteen Called Trump “Treasonous.” Trump Proved Him Right. Host: Will Salatan
Release Date: May 21, 2025

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In this compelling episode of Bulwark Takes, host Will Salatan delves into the escalating conflict between acclaimed musician Bruce Springsteen and former President Donald Trump. The discussion unpacks Trump's recent denunciations of Springsteen, highlights Trump's hypocritical actions on the international stage, and examines the broader implications for American democracy and values.

1. Bruce Springsteen's Bold Critique of Trump

The episode opens with Will Salatan introducing the contentious relationship between Bruce Springsteen and Donald Trump. Following a recent concert in England, Springsteen labeled Trump’s actions as “treasonous,” setting the stage for a fierce exchange.

Will Salatan [00:00]: "Guess who Donald Trump is fighting with now. Bruce Springsteen."

2. Trump's Accusation of Treason Against Springsteen

In response to Springsteen’s scathing remarks, Trump retaliated by accusing the musician of treason for criticizing him while abroad. Salatan underscores the irony in Trump’s allegations.

Donald Trump [00:15]: "In my home, the America I love... is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration."

Will Salatan [00:33]: "That accusation from Trump is one of the most hypocritical lectures you will ever see. ... Trump was flying back from a foreign country in which he himself had just trashed America."

3. Trump’s Hypocritical Foreign Speeches

Salatan meticulously dissects Trump’s international speeches, revealing a pattern of self-aggrandizement and disparagement of U.S. leadership while overseas. He highlights Trump’s focus on electoral victories rather than engaging with his foreign audience’s interests.

Donald Trump [01:31]: "We won a tremendous victory in November... The Electoral College, we won by 312 to 226."

Will Salatan [01:44]: "Trump is supposed to be talking about things [his foreign audience] care about. Instead, he's bragging about how many votes he got last year in our Electoral College."

4. Monetary Motives Over Democratic Values

A recurring theme in Trump’s speeches, as analyzed by Salatan, is his obsession with financial gains. Whether discussing Iraq or Ukraine, Trump emphasizes economic benefits over democratic principles or human rights.

Donald Trump [04:21]: "If you beat a country, you own that country, you take the oil... What did we get? We got nothing."

Will Salatan [05:43]: "This is how Trump thinks about everything. ... He doesn't care about democracy or human rights or who invaded who. All he cares about is money."

5. Undermining American Democracy

Salatan points out Trump’s efforts to delegitimize the American political system by labeling elections as rigged and corrupt. This undermines trust in democratic institutions and paints Trump as a victim rather than a perpetrator.

Donald Trump [08:11]: "I believe we would have had it filled out had the election been called fairly, which it wasn't. It was a rigged election."

Will Salatan [08:19]: "Trump told his audiences in these authoritarian countries that the American political system was fraudulent and corrupt."

6. Military Loyalty to Trump Over the Nation

In a particularly alarming revelation, Salatan discusses how Trump attempts to secure the loyalty of American troops by aligning their allegiance with his political ambitions rather than national service.

Donald Trump [09:35]: "We had three unbelievable campaigns... We've been an honor. ... Nobody been stronger than the military in terms of backing us."

Will Salatan [10:08]: "He told the troops that their loyalty is to him. ... He also told them that his political opponents in the United States are evil."

7. Transforming the U.S. into an Authoritarian Regime

Salatan warns of Trump’s aspirations to reshape American governance into a monarchy-like system, akin to the autocratic regimes he praised during his foreign visits. This shift threatens the foundational principles of American democracy.

Donald Trump [06:58]: "In recent years, far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it's our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders..."

Will Salatan [10:59]: "Donald Trump... is now telling American troops to join him in... turning it into a monarchy, just like those other countries."

8. The Aftermath: Trump's Domestic Attacks and Continuing Campaign

Upon returning from his trip, Trump intensified his attacks on domestic opponents, labeling them as corrupt and fraudsters. Salatan emphasizes the dangerous shift towards authoritarian tactics within American politics.

Donald Trump [10:41]: "We won three elections. ... And some people want us to do a fourth."

Will Salatan [10:59]: "Trump... is trying to destroy everything we stand for."

9. Conclusion: Springsteen Stands Firm Against Trump’s Assault

The episode culminates with a reaffirmation of Bruce Springsteen’s steadfast opposition to Trump’s actions and rhetoric. Salatan underscores Springsteen’s role as a defender of American values amidst growing threats to democracy.

Will Salatan [12:54]: "Trump went to the Persian Gulf, sucked up to the autocrats for money, trashed America, renounced American values, came home, and now he's trying to gut our country and turn it into a monarchy... Here's what the Boss, the real Boss, said..."

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Key Takeaways:

• Hypocrisy in Leadership: Trump's accusations against Springsteen contrast sharply with his own actions abroad, where he espouses policies and attitudes detrimental to American values.

• Monetary Priorities Over Principles: Trump’s foreign engagements are driven by financial incentives rather than democratic ideals or human rights.

• Threat to Democracy: Efforts to undermine electoral integrity and foster loyalty to himself over the nation pose significant risks to democratic institutions.

• Enduring Resistance: Figures like Bruce Springsteen play a crucial role in challenging and holding accountable those who threaten the foundational principles of the United States.

This episode of Bulwark Takes serves as a poignant examination of the current political climate, highlighting the dangers of authoritarian tendencies and the importance of steadfast opposition from cultural and political leaders alike.

Transcript

[Will Salatan]

Hey, it's Will Salatan from the Bulwark. Guess who Donald Trump is fighting with now. Bruce Springsteen. Last week, Springsteen did a concert in England, and here's what he said about Trump.

[Donald Trump]

In my home, the America I love, the America I've 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.

[Will Salatan]

Trump did not appreciate that, so on Friday, he posted this message. He suggested that Springsteen had committed treason by going to a foreign country to speak badly about the President of the United States. Trump said Springsteen should keep his mouth shut until he gets back into the country. That accusation from Trump is one of the most hypocritical lectures you will ever see. Because at that moment, Trump was flying back from a foreign country in which he himself had just trashed America and everything it stands for. Let me show you what he did. This trip started out in Saudi Arabia. Trump stood up in front of an audience of Saudi ministers and business leaders, and here's what he said.

[Donald Trump]

We won a tremendous victory in November. We won all seven swing states, the popular vote by millions and millions of votes. The Electoral College, we won by 312 to 226.

[Will Salatan]

Remember, this is a Saudi business audience. Trump is supposed to be talking about things they care about. Instead, he's bragging about how many votes he got last year in our Electoral College. In fact, several times during this trip, Trump made his audiences listen to a detailed account of exactly how many counties he won. Watch how bored they are.

[Donald Trump]

Very importantly, we won counties throughout the United States. 2,660 to 451. That's why when you look at a map, they're all red. It's all. The whole country is red. Red stands for Republican.

[Will Salatan]

Red stands for Republican. He's literally explaining the color of an American election night TV map to a foreign audience that could not care less. But Trump cares a lot, because he wants people in other countries to know how badly he beat all the idiots in the United States. Check out what he said a couple of days later in Qatar. Another Persian Gulf monarchy about Joe Biden.

[Donald Trump]

We had a man that couldn't even stand up. He was so terrible, so terrible what he's done to our country. Biden was so bad. Worst pressure president we've ever had by far. There was never a president like this. This man was grossly incompetent.

[Will Salatan]

This is Trump doing exactly what he accused Springsteen of doing. Criticizing an American president on foreign soil. And Trump did the same thing at another speech in Saudi Arabia. Again, watch how bored the audience is as Trump goes on and on about Biden.

[Donald Trump]

Biden didn't do anything because he never did anything about anything. He had no capability, had no ability.

[Will Salatan]

And it wasn't just Biden. Trump also insulted other American presidents. Here he is in Qatar complaining about George W. Bush.

[Donald Trump]

We had a president that blew up half the Middle east, and then he left. That was it. You know, it was, like, spent $10 trillion on blowing up the Middle east. And then he left, just said, let's leave. Now we're left with nothing.

[Will Salatan]

When Trump says we left Iraq with nothing, you know what he's talking about, right? He's talking about oil. Remember what he said last fall about taking the oil?

[Donald Trump]

It used to be, you go to war, to the victor belong the spoils, right? In other words, if you beat a country, you own that country, you take the oil, we go to war, we bomb the crap out of it, then we leave. You know, it's almost like, what are we doing? What. What's going on? We bombed the whole Middle east, and then we left. What did we get? We got nothing.

[Will Salatan]

That's what really pisses Trump off about Iraq. It's not the people we killed. It's that we spent all that money and we didn't take their oil. In fact, Trump says the same thing about Ukraine, that we've spent a lot of money there, and the only way it can make sense to him is if we make a profit by taking Ukraine's minerals. Here's how he explained it.

[Donald Trump]

Three weeks ago, Biden handed them $350 billion in between cash and military equipment. 350. We got nothing. And I felt very foolish being the head of a country where Europe gets their money back and it's a much smaller amount of. And we get nothing. So I went to them and said, look, we got to get rare earth. They have great rare earth, meaning certain minerals, materials. They have things that a lot of places don't have. It's a big asset that they have. And we made a deal today where we get, you know, much more in theory than the $350 billion.

[Will Salatan]

This is how Trump thinks about everything. He doesn't care about democracy or human rights or who invaded who. All he cares about is money. Check out what he said on the last day of his trip in the United Arab Emirates. He's talking here about promises from Arab leaders to invest money in the United States.

[Donald Trump]

Think of it. This trip, I made 12 times the money that we're talking about. I made that money in a few days. I've always been good at the money. It's about pressuring Putin, right? I mean, no, but I've always been good with money. I make money I made in four days. I made 12 times what we spent in Ukraine.

[Will Salatan]

So if America is just about money, what are we giving up? What do we no longer stand for? The answer is principles, values, morals. We no longer care who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. Here's Trump speaking in front of Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, who, among other things, authorized the unbelievably brutal murder of a journalist.

[Donald Trump]

In recent years, far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it's our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders and use U.S. policy to dispense justice for their sins.

[Will Salatan]

That's a super clear message. You can kill whoever you want, and Trump won't just defend you. He will adore you. Watch what he said in that speech directly to the Crown Prince.

[Donald Trump]

I do. I like him a lot. I like him too much. That's why we give so much, you know? Too much. I like you too much. Great guy.

[Will Salatan]

Fellas, please get a room. Now. To be fair, Trump did speak out against one country during this trip, but it wasn't any of the monarchies he visited. It was the United States. Trump told his audiences in these authoritarian countries that the American political system was fraudulent and corrupt. Here's what he said in Saudi Arabia about the 2020 US presidential election.

[Donald Trump]

I believe we would have had it filled out had the election been called fairly, which it wasn't. It was a rigged election.

[Will Salatan]

And here's what Trump said in Qatar.

[Donald Trump]

We had a really successful first term, then the election was rigged.

[Will Salatan]

Trump had nothing bad to say about the kings and princes and sheikhs who rule these countries by birth, not by the will of the people. The only country he accused of betraying democracy was our country. And then here's what he said in the United Arab Emirates about American courts who dare to defy Trump's unconstitutional deportation policies.

[Donald Trump]

We will soon have a very safe country. We're getting people out. We need help from the courts. The courts are trying to think that they're. And they're taking privilege that they shouldn't have.

[Will Salatan]

Trump wants us to be more like the countries he visited. He wants to rule our country like a king. But that's not the most disgusting thing he said on this trip. The most disgusting thing was this visit to an American military base in Qatar. In this clip, you'll see him surrounded by American troops. And he doesn't thank them for serving our country. He thanks them for voting for him. Watch.

[Donald Trump]

Really, honestly, we had three unbelievable campaigns, and it's been. It's been an honor. And there's nobody been stronger than the military in terms of backing us. Nobody. So I just want to thank you all very much. Great honor. Thank you very much.

[Will Salatan]

Remember, four years ago, Trump literally attempted a coup. And here he is telling American troops that their loyalty is to him. And he also told them that his political opponents in the United States are evil.

[Donald Trump]

The damage that that administration did to this country is legendary. Allowing 21 million people through an open border where anybody could walk into the United States of America is something that will never be forgiven. Grossly incompetent and evil. Bad people, too. Bad people.

[Will Salatan]

And what did those evil Americans do? According to Trump? They stole an election. He told the troops that he actually won three elections, including the one that he says was rigged against him.

[Donald Trump]

Because, as you know, we won three elections. Okay. And some people want us to do a fourth. I don't know. We'll have to think about that. You saw the new. The new hat, the hottest hat is it says Trump, 2028. We're driving the left crazy when you see that.

[Will Salatan]

Donald Trump, who sent a mob to the Capitol to stay in power after he lost an election, is now telling American troops to join him in. In taunting his fellow Americans and threatening to stay in power for years and years and years, just like those kings and princes in the Persian Gulf. And when Trump came back from that trip, he did what those foreign autocrats do. He called for an investigation of his domestic opponents. Not just Kamala Harris, but the musicians who supported her in last year's election. On Monday, Trump posted this message demanding a, quote, major investigation of Springsteen on the completely false grounds that playing music at a Harris campaign rally was, quote, a major and illegal campaign contribution. And then today, Trump posted this fake video of him pretending to knock down Springsteen with a golf ball. Look, it's real clear what's going on here. Trump went to the Persian Gulf, sucked up to the autocrats for money, trashed America, renounced American values, came home, and now he's trying to gut our country and turn it into a monarchy, just like those other countries. He's trying to destroy everything we stand for. And you know who gets it? Springsteen. Here's what the Boss, the real Boss, said in that concert last week about Trump and the thugs who work for him.

[Donald Trump]

They have no concern or idea of what it means to be deeply American.

[Will Salatan]

You got that right. See you next time.