Bruce Springsteen Slams Donald Trump and New CBS Overlord David Ellison During Final ‘Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ Performance: “These Are Small-Minded People”

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AI-assisted · Cerebras / Llama · May 21, 2026, 5:37 AM · inspect sources below rather than trusting this alone

Bruce Springsteen performed on Stephen Colbert's penultimate episode of 'The Late Show,' delivering a rendition of his song "Streets of Minneapolis." The performance served as a platform for Springsteen to address political themes and express solidarity with Colbert as he prepares to leave the show.

Coverage of the event varied significantly across outlets. Rolling Stone focused on the emotional aspects of Springsteen's performance and its significance as a rallying cry, while Variety highlighted Springsteen's criticisms of political figures, including Donald Trump and business leaders. In contrast, the New York Post emphasized the political jab taken by Springsteen, framing it as a direct attack on Trump and Paramount, which may suggest a more adversarial tone.

No outlet provided extensive background on the specific events that inspired "Streets of Minneapolis," such as the immigration raids and their impact on the community, which could have offered deeper context to Springsteen's performance. This omission may reflect a blind spot in the coverage, particularly among left-leaning sources that focused more on the emotional and performative aspects.