Bruce Springsteen recently made an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. During the appearance, he made a statement, both in his speech and with a song, concerning the show coming to an end. Since then, however, he’s also gotten a response.
Buce Springsteen Appeared On The Penultimate Episode Of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Nicknamed “The Boss,” Springsteen is a singer and songwriter originally from New Jersey. A prominent musician from the album era, he has sold over 140 million records worldwide.
Recently, Springsteen appeared on the penultimate episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which aired its last episode on May 21, 2026. CBS previously announced that they would be retiring The Late Show‘s format earlier this year.
After Colbert introduced the rock star, Springsteen had a few choice words for Paramount owners Larry and David Ellison and President Donald Trump. At the time, he shared, “I am here in support tonight of Stephen. Because you’re the first guy in America who’s lost his show because we got a president who can’t take a joke.”
This was connected to speculation that Colbert’s show was politically motivated, despite the network saying it was for financial reasons. Springsteen continued, “And, and because — because Larry and David Ellison feel they need to kiss his a‑‑ to get what they want, so these are — anyway, Stephen, these are small-minded people who got no idea what the freedoms of this beautiful country are supposed to be about. This is for you.”
Springsteen Is No Stranger To Making Statements With His Music
Springsteen performed “Streets of Minneapolis.” He had reportedly written this song amidst the ICE occupation of Minneapolis. This ultimately resulted in the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. Springsteen’s performance was described as “stripped back,” with an emotional harmonica solo finishing the piece.
This isn’t the first time that Springsteen has discussed politics and used his music to make statements. He is currently on his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour, whose slogan, “No Kings,” was believed to be a response to Trump.
According to The Hill, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle shared the following statement in response to the scene, “Stephen Colbert is a pathetic trainwreck with no talent and terrible ratings, which is exactly why CBS canceled his show and is booting him off the airwaves.” He also linked to an April Truth social post from Trump that described Springsteen as a “total loser.” He also accused him of having Trump Derangement Syndrome.
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John Witiw has been a writer since at least 2015. He’s covered a variety of topics, especially when it comes to film and television.