Bruce Springsteen’s new protest song ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ takes aim at Donald Trump and ICE
American rock legend Bruce Springsteen has dedicated his new song to “the people of Minneapolis, our immigrant neighbours and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” the two US citizens gunned down by ICE agents this month.
Bruce Springsteen has shared a powerful new single, titled ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’, in which he mourns the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both killed by ICE agents this month.
The song, whose title is a nod to his Oscar-winning 1994 song ‘Streets of Philadelphia’, features the lines “We’ll remember the names of those who died / On the streets of Minneapolis” and names the victims of both tragedies: “Two dead left to die on snow-filled streets / Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”
The Boss has already spoken out about ICE’s violence in Minnesota, calling for ICE to “get the f*ck out of Minneapolis” on stage in New Jersey. However, his new song pulls no punches, as Springsteen namechecks and condemns Donald Trump, with the line “King Trump’s private army from the DHS / Guns belted to their coats.”
He also takes aim at both Trump advisor Stephen Miller and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, both of which have peddled falsehoods about Good and Pretti, accusing them of being “domestic terrorists”.
“Their claim was self-defense, sir / Just don’t believe your eyes / It’s our blood and bones / And these whistles and phones / Against Miller and Noem’s dirty lies.”
“I wrote this song on Saturday…in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis,” the Boss posted on Instagram. “It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.” He signed off: “Stay free.”
Listen to “Streets of Minneapolis” below:
This is not the first time that Springsteen has slammed Trump and his administration.
During the 2024 election campaign, the artist threw his support behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, and said Trump was running to be an "American tyrant." At that time, he said of Trump: "He does not understand this country, its history or what it means to be deeply American."
He has called for Trump to be impeached and “consigned to the trash heap of history”, and has described him as “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous.”
Trump has hit back at the Boss on a few occasions, describing one of the US’ most beloved figures as “highly overrated” and an “obnoxious jerk”. He also called for a “major investigation” into Springsteen.
Renee Good, 37, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis on 7 January. Her death triggered mass protests across the country.
Alex Pretti, also 37, was killed on 24 January by an officer who shot him 10 times in a few seconds. Pretti had been part of the peaceful protests unfolding in the wake of Good’s death.
Springsteen slams 'state terror' in fiery ode
to Minneapolis shooting victims
Bruce Springsteen has released a protest song honouring Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renée Good, who were shot dead by federal agents involved in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, and referring to ICE agents as "King Trump's private army".
Issued on 29/01/2026
By:FRANCE 24
American rock hero Bruce Springsteen dived into the outrage over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown with a fiery song released Wednesday that pays tribute to two protesters fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Springsteen said the song "Streets of Minneapolis" was a response to "state terror" in the northern US city, rocked by the actions of armed federal officers that have stoked vociferous local protests.
"I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city" in the state of Minnesota, The Boss wrote on his Instagram page.
"It's dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renée Good," the 76-year-old wrote, referring to the two US nationals killed this month. Pretti died after a scuffle with agents on a snowy Minneapolis street on Saturday.
"Stay free," Springsteen added.
The "Born to Run" and "Badlands" singer has often been willing to criticise President Donald Trump with very blunt language in interviews and at performances, and the anthemic song he released online Wednesday pulls no punches.
It refers to the several thousand immigration agents who descended on Minneapolis as "King Trump's private army" wearing "occupiers' boots" and with "guns belted to their coats" as they undertake Trump's push to deport undocumented immigrants.
"There were bloody footprints where mercy should have stood, and two dead left to die on snow-filled streets: Alex Pretti and Renée Good," he sings in the opening verse.
The chorus: "Oh Minneapolis I hear your voice, crying through the bloody mist. We'll remember the names of those who died on the streets of Minneapolis."
The song's title echoes the 1994 classic "Streets of Philadelphia", Springsteen's haunting ballad about people living with AIDS.
For decades, Springsteen has been revered by rock fans in the United States and beyond for his man-of-the-people guitar music and socially conscious, working-class anthems like "Born in the USA", "The River", and "Rosalita".
During the 2024 election campaign that led to Trump's second presidency, Springsteen threw his support behind Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, and said Trump was running to be an "American tyrant".
At that time he said of Trump, "He does not understand this country, its history or what it means to be deeply American."
Trump has in recent days sought to tamp down the furor over the violence in Minneapolis and has shuffled the leadership of immigration agents deployed there, putting a less confrontational figure in charge.
But on Wednesday he warned the mayor of Minneapolis that he is "playing with fire" with his refusal to cooperate with federal authorities.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Issued on: 29/01/2026
12:10 min
As protests over the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents sweep the US, the outrage has spilled into the cultural world – reaching the red carpets of the Sundance Film Festival and igniting fierce criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies. At Sundance, stars including Natalie Portman and Elijah Wood donned "ICE OUT" pins and joined calls for justice following the deaths of Pretti and Renee Good at the hands of ICE and Border Patrol agents.
Meanwhile, rap icon Nicki Minaj made headlines by publicly declaring herself Donald Trump's "number one fan", saying criticism of the US president only strengthens her support – a reminder of the sharply divided reactions across American culture and celebrity.
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