Bruce Springsteen has reportedly been dealing with an increasing number of death threats during his ongoing “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour, according to longtime Springsteen guitarist Steven Van Zandt.
The tour, which launched on April 1 in Minneapolis, has featured politically charged speeches from Springsteen, with the legendary rocker frequently criticizing President Donald Trump and speaking out on issues including ICE immigration enforcement and the war in Iran.
Springsteen and Trump have traded public insults several times over the years. The Boss previously labeled Trump “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous,” while the president once dismissed Springsteen as a “dried out prune.”
According to Van Zandt, the tense political climate surrounding the tour has resulted in heightened security measures.
“This tour has been a little bit different because of the high security,” Van Zandt recently told the Daily Mail. “It’s a very specific political theme to this tour and there’s been a lot of threats, death threats. Usually there’s always some, but this time it’s been increasing.”
Because of those threats, additional precautions have reportedly been taken behind the scenes to help ensure the safety of both the band and concertgoers.
“It’s not like we’re saying something that’s not true or we’re saying something that’s so really particularly controversial, but it’s specifically political,” Van Zandt continued. “So the FBI and others have been really watching things and been overly concerned about it, as they should be. We want the fans to be safe and feel safe. So we really go the extra mile with extra security for that reason alone.”
Back in March, before the American leg of the tour officially began in Minneapolis, the 76-year-old Springsteen told the Minnesota Star Tribune that fans should expect the run to tackle current political issues head-on.
The veteran rocker explained that the trek was “going to be political and very topical about what’s going on in the country.”
A longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, Springsteen has never shied away from political commentary throughout his career. Earlier this year, he also released a protest song titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” which he said “was in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” referring to ICE operations.
In the song, Springsteen describes ICE as “King Trump’s private army.” He also noted that the track was “dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
The “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour is currently scheduled to wrap up on May 30 in Philadelphia.
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