Bruce Springsteen Offers ‘Prayer of Thanks’ Following White House Correspondents’ Dinner Incident

Bruce Springsteen has long been a vocal critic of Donald Trump and his administration. However, following a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night (April 25) at the Washington Hilton, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer adopted a more conciliatory tone. During the E Street Band’s performance at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday night (April 26), Bruce Springsteen offered a plea for peace and a firm condemnation of political violence.

“We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return,” Springsteen said, according to fan accounts of the show. “We also send out a prayer of thanks that our President, nor anyone in the administration, nor anyone attending, was injured at last night’s incident at the White House Press Correspondents’ Dinner.”

Springsteen emphasized the importance of civil discourse, stating, “We can disagree. We can be critical of those in power, and we can peacefully fight for our beliefs. But there is no place in any way, shape, or form for political violence of any kind in our beloved United States.”

The incident occurred when a man, identified by authorities as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen of Torrance, California, allegedly charged through a security checkpoint at the hotel. The suspect reportedly shot an officer before being apprehended. At the time of the concert, the suspect’s motive remained under investigation.

This statement marks a notable shift for Springsteen, who had previously been highly critical of the administration, including a recent rebuke during a concert in Minneapolis. The event at the Washington Hilton—the same venue where President Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt over 45 years ago—has prompted widespread concern regarding security and the current political climate.

In a subsequent interview on 60 Minutes, Donald Trump addressed the incident, describing the world as “crazy” and expressing frustration over the media’s coverage of the event and the alleged shooter’s manifesto. Despite the tension, Trump indicated he would like to see the dinner rescheduled within the next month.