Bruce Springsteen On Trump: President Doesn’t Know ‘What It Means To Be An American’

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen didn’t mince words when asked about Donald Trump in a recent interview. Springsteen was promoting his new concert film, “Western Stars,” on “CBS This Morning” with interviewer Gayle King when the conversation turned to politics.

“The stewardship of the nation has been thrown away to somebody who doesn’t have a clue as to what that means,” Springsteen said. “And unfortunately, we have somebody who I feel doesn’t have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American.”

Trump has mocked musicians like Springsteen, who have opposed his administration. At a rally, Trump called the 70-year-old icon, "Little Bruce Springsteen."

While expressing his displeasure for Trump, Springsteen also noted that there is no clear frontrunner from the Democratic field for 2020.

“I don’t see anyone out there at the moment … the man who can beat Trump, or the woman who can beat Trump,” Springsteen said. “You need someone who can speak some of the same language [as Trump] … and the Democrats don’t have an obvious, effective presidential candidate.”

Springsteen, long admired for lyrics that sympathized with the working class, has not shied away from his left-leaning politics. In 2008, he officially endorsed Barack Obama and went on to perform at his inauguration. He has also previously campaigned for the likes of John Kerry and Hillary Clinton.

“Western Stars” also marks Springsteen’s directorial debut. It was released into 345 theaters in North America by Warner Bros. on Oct. 25.