Tom Morello defends Springsteen, Harvard in Boston Calling Tirade Against Trump
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The rage Against the Machine guitarist didn’t hold back during his set, blasting the former president for his attacks on musicians and institutions.
During his performance at Boston Calling 2025 on Sunday, “Rage Against the Machine” guitarist and singer-songwriter Tom Morello voiced his support for individuals and institutions recently targeted by President Donald Trump.
morello showed solidarity with his alma mater, Harvard University, which the Trump governance recently blocked from accepting foreign students, and with musician Bruce springsteen.
Morello’s criticism follows Trump’s recent attacks on Taylor Swift and Springsteen on Truth Social. Both musicians have been vocal critics of the president.
“Bruce is going after Trump because Bruce, his whole life, he’s been about truth, justice, democracy, equality,” Morello said. “And Trump is mad at him because Bruce draws a bigger audience. F––– that guy.”
“Bruce is going after Trump because Bruce, his whole life, he’s been about truth, justice, democracy, equality.”
On May 16, Trump posted on Truth Social: “Has anyone noticed that, since I said ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT,’ she’s no longer ‘HOT?'”
In a separate post, Trump called Springsteen “Highly overrated” and “not a talented guy,” after Springsteen criticized the president during a concert in London.
Morello warned fans that his performance might be “the last big event before they throw us all in jail.”
A report described the atmosphere as “one of cathartic defiance,” noting the presence of “Nazi Lives Don’t Matter” T-shirts at Morello’s set.
Morello Praises Harvard, Guthrie
Morello mentioned practicing guitar in his dorm stairwell and praised Harvard for offering a free online course that “covers basic U.S. government, understanding the Constitution, and how to recognize a dictatorship takeover of your country.”
He dedicated “Hold the Line” to his fellow union members and followed it with the “censored” verses of woody guthrie’s “This land Is Your Land,” encouraging the audience to consider the song’s true meaning.