Bruce Springsteen arrived in Minnesota on Friday and delivered a powerful live performance of his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” just hours after the track surged to the top of the iTunes charts.
The legendary rocker took the stage at First Avenue, the iconic Minneapolis venue, during the “Defend Minnesota!” benefit concert. The crowd erupted as Springsteen performed the politically charged song, which he wrote in response to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed during federal enforcement operations.
Earlier that morning, “Streets of Minneapolis” climbed to the No. 1 spot on iTunes, outperforming tracks such as “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley, “Let Em’ Know” by Bryson Tiller, and “I Just Might” by Bruno Mars.
Springsteen revealed that he wrote the song last Saturday and officially released it on Wednesday. In a message shared with fans on social media, the musician said the song was created “in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis.”
“It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” Springsteen wrote, signing off with, “Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”
The 4½-minute track is a direct critique of federal immigration enforcement actions and openly names senior Trump administration figures, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and President Donald Trump.
The song’s release quickly sparked strong reactions from government officials. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin dismissed the track, stating that the department looked forward to hearing songs “dedicated to the thousands of American citizens killed by criminal illegal aliens.”
McLaughlin added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “are saving lives every day” by arresting individuals accused of serious crimes, including violent offenders, traffickers, and terrorists.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson also responded critically, saying the Trump administration remains focused on urging state and local leaders to cooperate with federal law enforcement in removing dangerous criminals from communities, rather than responding to “random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information.”
Despite the backlash, “Streets of Minneapolis” has gained massive traction online. Official versions of the song have surpassed 5 million views on YouTube and earned nearly 500,000 likes on Instagram, underscoring its rapid impact and the intensity of public debate surrounding its message.
Springsteen’s appearance and performance in Minneapolis reinforced his long-standing reputation as an artist unafraid to confront political and social issues head-on — and demonstrated once again the enduring power of music as a form of protest.
