Mick Jagger takes a swipe at Bruce Springsteen over anti-Trump rants at gigs: 'You don't want a lecture'

By JAMES GORDON, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 00:13, 12 July 2026 | Updated: 00:13, 12 July 2026 Mick Jagger took aim at Bruce Springsteen's increasingly political concerts warning that fans don't want to be lectured from the stage. The Rolling Stones front man made the comments during an interview on The New York Times' podcast with David Marchese, where Jagger laid out his philosophy for entertaining stadium crowds.  He appeared to distance himself after Marchese brought up avowed Donald Trump critic Springsteen who has repeatedly used his concerts this year to launch blistering attacks on the president and his administration. Asked how he views his relationship with audiences compared with artists such as Bob Dylan and Springsteen, Jagger said his priority has always been making sure concertgoers leave feeling uplifted rather than weighed down by politics. 'The bottom line of my thing really is that my job in the live music world is those people that come is to have the best time they possibly can,' Jagger said. 'For two hours or whatever it is, to forget all their problems and the problems of the world and their mortgages and whatever, just to give them the best time they can have.' The 82-year-old rock icon compared attending a concert to watching a major sporting event, arguing that audiences should be able to switch off from the anxieties of daily life while the show is happening. 'You don't want to lecture them,' he said.  Mick Jagger said concertgoers should be able to forget 'their problems and the problems of the world' during his shows. 'You don't want to lecture them', he said to the New York Times By comparison, Bruce Springsteen opened his latest tour in April with a speech criticizing President Donald Trump and his administration President Donald Trump has repeatedly responded to Springsteen's criticisms in posts on social media. Trump previously described Springsteen as a 'dried up prune'  He acknowledged that every crowd reacts differently depending on where in the world the band is performing, saying fans in one country may be wildly demonstrative while those elsewhere may enjoy themselves in quieter ways.  Rather than trying to force a particular reaction, Jagger said performers should adapt to the mood of the audience. 'Your job is to make them have the best time they possibly can,' he said, explaining that while some audiences want to 'go completely nuts,' others express their enjoyment more subtly. He added that musicians should not become frustrated if fans are less outwardly animated than crowds in other countries. 'They're having a good time in their own way,' he said. The comments come after Springsteen turned many of his concerts this year into platforms for outspoken criticism of Trump. When launching his latest tour in April, Springsteen delivered an extended speech condemning the administration. 'This White House is destroying the American idea and our reputation around the world,' Springsteen told concertgoers.  Mick Jagger, left, seen performing with singer Bruce Springsteen, right, in Lisbon in 2014 Jagger said he prefers entertainment over extended political messaging, arguing audiences attend concerts to enjoy themselves rather than receive a lecture 'To many, we are no longer looked upon as an often imperfect but strong defender of democracy standing for the global good. We are now, to many, America the reckless, unpredictable, predatory rogue nation. That is this administration's and this president's legacy. This is happening now.' The criticism did not stop there. During a concert in Washington, D.C., in May, Springsteen described Trump as a 'racist' and accused him of being 'treasonous.' Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota earlier this year, Springsteen also released a song criticizing 'King Trump' and referring to ICE agents as the president's 'federal thugs.' Trump has repeatedly fired back at the music legend. The president has used social media to ridicule Springsteen, at one point describing him as a 'dried up prune' while encouraging MAGA supporters to boycott the singer's latest tour. Although Jagger distanced himself from lengthy political messaging during concerts, he made clear he is not opposed to social commentary finding its way into his songwriting. Springsteen has described Trump as a 'racist' and 'treasonous' during a concert in Washington, D.C. this year Instead, he said he prefers weaving those themes into songs without allowing politics to dominate the music. 'I've got into this habit of doing songs that are about personal relationships and then I throw a verse about politics in there,' Jagger explained. He added that the broader idea extends beyond politics to social commentary in general, saying such themes work best when blended naturally into a song rather than becoming its sole focus.  'I think that's a trick that I've learned from other songwriters or listened to others because nobody wants to hear a whole song about politics.' The Daily Mail has reached out to Jagger and Springsteen's representatives for comment.