Bruce Springsteen performed the protest track "Streets of Minneapolis" on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, May 20 [1].
The appearance marks a high-profile intersection of music and political activism as the late-night program approaches its conclusion. By using the platform to target the current administration, Springsteen connected a specific musical work to ongoing national debates regarding civil liberties, and immigration enforcement.
Springsteen, 76 [3], used the performance to protest government-led violence and ICE raids [4]. He targeted President Trump during his time on stage, framing the political climate as hostile to satire and dissent [4]. The song "Streets of Minneapolis" was released in January 2026 [3].
During the broadcast, Springsteen addressed the end of Colbert's tenure as host. He called Colbert "the first guy in America who lost his show because we've got a president who can't take a joke," he said [5].
Reports vary on the exact timing of the episode relative to the series finale. Some sources described the May 20 broadcast as the penultimate show [6], while others characterized it as the final episode [2].
The performance took place at the show's New York City studio [1]. It served as both a salute to Colbert and a critique of the administration's impact on free speech, and public safety [4].
“"the first guy in America who lost his show because we've got a president who can't take a joke,"”
The performance underscores a deepening alignment between high-profile cultural figures and political protest movements. By linking the cancellation of a major late-night program to the temperament of the presidency, Springsteen is framing the loss of the show not as a business decision, but as a symptom of eroding democratic norms and freedom of expression in the U.S.
