AceShowbiz - Bruce Springsteen, known for his outspoken views against President Donald Trump, has declared that his upcoming Land of Hope and Dreams Tour with the E Street Band will carry a strong political message. Speaking to the Minnesota Star Tribune, he said the tour "is going to be political and very topical about what's going on in the country."

Springsteen emphasized the band’s long-standing role during difficult times: "The E Street Band is built for hard times. It always was. These are the moments when I think we can be of real value and real worth to the community." The tour is set to launch on Tuesday in Minneapolis and will conclude in Washington, D.C. on May 27. Along the way, Springsteen will also perform at St. Paul’s No Kings protest, an event he described as "of great import."

Reflecting on the current political climate, Springsteen said, "I don't know of another time when the country has been as critically challenged and our basic ideas and values as critically challenged as they are right now." He compared this moment to 1968, when he was 18, noting that the nation feels "so on edge" with much at stake regarding identity and future direction. "It's a critical, critical moment," he added.

The tour will feature guitarist Tom Morello joining Springsteen at every show. In the interview, Springsteen credited Morello with offering key advice during the writing of his song "Streets of Minneapolis," which debuted live at a protest concert organized by Morello in January. Springsteen explained, "I tend to write more nuanced even with my political or topical songs. I never want to sound like I'm on a soapbox. But as Tom said, 'Nuance is wonderful, and sometimes you have to kick them in the teeth.' And this was one of those times." He expressed excitement about Morello’s presence on the tour, saying, "He always brings a little edge to the E Street Band."

The song "Streets of Minneapolis" notably highlights the deaths of two American citizens killed by ICE in Minneapolis, a subject that drew dismissive responses from the Trump White House. In January, a White House spokeswoman said the administration would not comment on the song, labeling it "random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information."

When Springsteen announced the tour, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung responded with a pun-filled statement mocking the artist, suggesting his "Glory Days are behind him" and accusing him of having "Trump Derangement Syndrome." Despite this, Springsteen said he is unbothered by political backlash. "My job is very simple: I do what I want to do, I say what I want to say, and then people get to say what they want to say about it," he told the Star Tribune. "I don't worry about if you're going to lose this part of your audience."

Springsteen reaffirmed his commitment to the cultural impact of his band, stating, "I've always had a feeling about the position we play culturally, and I'm still deeply committed to that idea of the band. The blowback is just part of it. I'm ready for all that."

With the Land of Hope and Dreams Tour, Springsteen aims to use his music and platform to engage with the political turmoil gripping the nation, blending activism and artistry as he has in past challenging times. The tour’s start in Minneapolis and conclusion in the nation’s capital underscore the significance of the journey during this pivotal moment in American history.