Bruce Springsteen has offered a “prayer of thanks” that President Donald Trump was not injured in a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington DC. The 76-year-old rock star, a longtime critic of Trump, paused his criticism during a concert in Austin, Texas on Sunday night.
In video circulating on social media, Springsteen told the audience: “We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return. We also send out a prayer of thanks that our president, nor anyone in the administration, nor anyone attending, was injured at last night’s incident at the press correspondents’ dinner.”
Springsteen added: “We can disagree. We can be critical of those in power, and we can peacefully fight for our beliefs. But there is no place in any way, shape, or form for political violence of any kind in our beloved United States.”
The musician and the president have a long-running feud. In 2012, Trump criticised Springsteen on social media for appearing at a rally for Barack Obama. In 2016, Springsteen called Trump a “moron” and warned the republic was “under siege”. Earlier this month, Trump urged MAGA supporters to boycott Springsteen, calling him “a dried up prune”.
