The Boss has another problem with the boss.

In a surprise appearance at the Light of Day Winterfest in New Jersey on Saturday, Bruce Springsteen ripped into President Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for its raids in Minneapolis and the killing of Renee Good.

Introducing the 1978 song "The Promised Land," the 76-year-old rocker said, "I wrote this song as an ode to American possibility. Right now we are living through incredibly critical times. The United States, the ideals and the value for which it stood for the past 250 years, is being tested like it has never been in modern times. Those values and those ideals have never been as endangered as they are right now."

He continued: "If you believe in the power of law and that no one stands above it, if you stand against heavily armed masked federal troops invading an American city, using gestapo tactics against our fellow citizens, if you believe you don't deserve to be murdered for exercising your American right to protest, then send a message to this president, as [Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey] said: 'ICE should get the [expletive] out of Minneapolis,'" according to a video from the benefit posted to YouTube.

Springsteen had taken the stage with Pittsburgh legends Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, as he often does, at the annual benefit concert for Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, in Red Bank, N.J.

Springsteen, a longtime supporter of Democratic politicians and onetime podcast host with former President Barack Obama, has been a vocal critic of Trump since his first run in 2016.

Kicking off a tour in Manchester, England, in May 2025, Springsteen said that the United States was "currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration."

Trump responded at the time on his Truth Social platform that Springsteen is "just a pushy, obnoxious JERK," "dumb as a rock" and a "dried out 'prune' of a rocker" who "ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare.'"

Springsteen dedicated "The Promised Land" on Saturday to the 37-year-old Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE officer in her car on Jan. 7 during an ICE operation in Minneapolis.

The Houserockers began the night with their own set and then backed 86-year-old rock legend Gary U.S. Bonds for three songs.

Springsteen then joined the Houserockers for a mix of Springsteen and Grushecky songs: "Darkness on the Edge of Town," "Pumpin' Iron," "Lucky Town," "Savin' Up," "I'm Not Sleeping," "Atlantic City," "Johnny 99" and "The Promised Land."

On stage with them for part of that set was Johnny Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls and famed photographer Danny Clinch.

Grushecky, who said he agreed with the Boss' take on ICE, later said the reaction to Springsteen's comment was "very positive. People were bawling their eyes when we went into 'The Promised Land.' It was a moment."

The Pittsburgh rocker said it's one of the band's best trips to Light of Day.

"It never felt so positive and community-oriented. I'm not sure what was in the air. Everything was jam-packed and the crowds were friendly, loving and cheering. It was something else."

Houserockers drummer Joffo Simmons said, "It was like going to Kennywood in the early '70s. I had a major blast."

In addition to the Houserockers, Milly the Band, featuring Grushecky's son Johnny, played the festival.

©2026 PG Publishing Co. Visit at post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.