The song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” discusses the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot during the Department of Homeland Security operations to detain illegal immigrants in the city. Springsteen said he wrote the song the day that a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Pretti.
“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,” Springsteen said in a statement. “It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free.”
Springsteen’s lyrics characterize federal officials as “King Trump’s private army,” “occupiers,” and “Trump’s federal thugs.” However, the White House and DHS commented on the “inaccurate” characterization of these officers.
“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,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Washington Examiner.
“The media should cover how Democrats have refused to work with the administration, and instead, opted to provide sanctuary for these criminal illegals,” Jackson said.
DHS suggested Springsteen write a song about the victims of illegal immigrants.
“We eagerly await Mr. Springsteen’s songs dedicated to the thousands of American citizens killed by criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the Washington Examiner.
“Every day, the brave men and women of ICE are saving lives by arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, drug dealers, gang members, and terrorists.”
Springsteen’s song has been listened to over 3 million times on YouTube.
“Now they say they’re here to uphold the law / But they trample on our rights / If your skin is black or brown, my friend / You can be questioned or deported on sight,” Springsteen’s fourth verse goes. “In our chants of ‘ICE out now’ / Our city’s heart and soul persists / Through broken glass and bloody tears / On the streets of Minneapolis.”
“Oh, our Minneapolis, I hear your voice / Singing through the bloody mist / We’ll take our stand for this land / And the stranger in our midst / Here in our home, they killed and roamed / In the winter of ’26,” the chorus goes. “We’ll remember the names of those who died / On the streets of Minneapolis.”
Among Springsteen’s fans was Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who announced her candidacy for governor of Minnesota a day after the song’s release.
“Thank you Bruce Springsteen for ‘Streets of Minneapolis,’ a powerful tribute to Renee Good and Alex Pretti and to the strength of the people of Minnesota,” Klobuchar wrote on X Wednesday.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MUSIC ICON BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ARE TAUNTING EACH OTHER. WHO IS WINNING?
Springsteen has long opposed Trump. In 2024, he condemned the Trump campaign’s use of his songs. Springsteen endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for president instead.
This latest song was released ahead of Springsteen’s seven-album set Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which is scheduled to come out on June 27.
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