The American Federation of Musicians International is calling out Donald Trump for targeting two of the world’s most famous musicians. Recently, Trump went on an online rant. Trump used the social media platform Truth Social to attack Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen. In a post, Trump wrote that Taylor Swift wasn’t “hot” anymore and that Bruce Springsteen was “dumb as a rock.”
AFM Speaks Out
“The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada will not remain silent as two of our members — Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift — are singled out and personally attacked by the President of the United States,” Gagliardi began. “Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift are not just brilliant musicians; they are role models and inspirations to millions of people in the United States and across the world,” the statement added
“Whether it’s ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ or the Eras Tour, their music is timeless, impactful, and has deep cultural meaning. Musicians have the right to freedom of expression, and we stand in solidarity with all our members.” Swift and Springsteen are just two of tens of thousands of musicians who belong to the AFM.
The AFM “negotiates fair agreements, protects ownership of recorded music, secures benefits such as health care and pension, and lobbies for musicians and the rights of workers,” according to its website. Springsteen belongs to a chapter of AFM in Los Angeles and New Jersey, and Swift is a member of her local Nashville branch.
Trump Targets Taylor Swift
Trump’s attacks on the two musicians began on Friday when he posted, “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?’” Months ago, Trump posted a message declaring he owned the 14-time Grammy Award winner. His comments came on the heels of Swift endorsing Kamala Harris for president in 2024. This wasn’t Trump’s first online attack on Swift; he has a long history of criticizing her online.
Springsteen Torches Trump
Not long after attacking Swift, Trump turned his attention to Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen had previously referred to Trump as a “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration” during his concert in Manchester.
“Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he’s not a talented guy — Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK, who fervently supported Crooked Joe Biden … Sleepy Joe didn’t have a clue as to what he was doing, but Springsteen is dumb as a rock,” Trump posted online.
Swift and Springsteen have both been very open about their opposition to Trump. Both Swift and Springsteen threw their support behind Kamala Harris and have criticized Trump’s policies. In 2020, Springsteen called Trump a “threat to democracy.” He added, “he simply makes any kind of reform that much harder … These are all existential threats to our democracy and our American way of life.”
