Two days after Bruce Springsteen shared a new protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” in response to the “state terror being visited on the city,” he performed the song in that city in a surprise appearance at a benefit concert held at the intimate music venue, First Avenue. The January 30, 2026, performance continued a remarkable three days of the news cycle in which the star firmly hitched his wagon “in response to the state terror being visited on the city.” In the track, released on Jan. 28, he pulls no punches about his disdain for President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security, while paying tribute to the two shooting victims, Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

One day after the song was released, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded with a statement. “The Trump administration is focused on encouraging state and local Democrats to work with federal law enforcement officers on removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from their communities — not random songs with irrelevant opinions and inaccurate information,” it read. “The media should cover how Democrats have refused to work with the administration, and instead, opted to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegals.”

Also on Jan. 29, Springsteen issued an official video for the song, filled with images of the actual streets of Minneapolis during the protests.

A portion of the first verse:

“King Trump’s private army from the DHS
Guns belted to their coats
Came to Minneapolis to enforce the law
Or so their story goes
Against smoke and rubber bullets
By the dawn’s early light
Citizens stood for justice
Their voices ringing through the night
And there were bloody footprints
Where mercy should have stood
And two dead left to die on snow-filled streets
Alex Pretti and Renee Good.”

Later in the song, he name checks United States Homeland security advisor Stephen Miller and U.S. secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem.

“Trump’s federal thugs beat up on
His face and his chest
Then we heard the gunshots
And Alex Pretti lay in the snow, dead
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.”

Springsteen added a brief statement to accompany the release of “Street of Minneapolis”: “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 of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

“Stay free, Bruce Springsteen.”

The song is available to download here.

Watch Springsteen perform the song during his surprise appearance at Minneapolis’ First Avenue

Springsteen’s Tracks II: The Lost Albums, released in 2025, are available in the U.S. here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.