Bruce Springsteen Offers 'Prayer of Thanks' No One Was Hurt at White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
Bruce Springsteen Offers 'Prayer of Thanks' No One Was Hurt at White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting
Daniela AvilaMon, April 27, 2026 at 10:25 PM UTC
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Bruce Springsteen and Donald TrumpCredit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty -
Bruce Springsteen condemned political violence during an E Street Band concert following the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting
The armed suspect was charged with attempting to assassinate President Trump and two federal gun charges
Springsteen has often sparred publicly with President Trump
Bruce Springsteen offered a prayer for President Donald Trump after the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner shooting on Saturday, April 25.
During the E Street Band's concert in Austin, Texas, the following day, the "Dancing in the Dark" singer spoke out against political violence.
"We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return," Springsteen, 76, said, according to fan-recorded videos on social media. "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."
He continued, "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."
At the White House Correspondents' Dinner, Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and press secretary Karoline Leavitt were rushed out by Secret Service agents after an armed man — identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, Calif. — opened fire.
He was arraigned on Monday, April 27 and charged with attempting to assassinate the president of the United States as well as two federal gun charges, according to The New York Times and NBC News. Allen did not enter a plea at his arraignment.
The following day, Trump was asked how he felt amid the commotion of gunshots and attendees taking cover under tables.
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"I wasn't worried. I understand life. We live in a crazy world," Trump, 79, said. "You can really enhance your chances of having a perfect situation, but sometimes things will happen."
The shooting incident marked the possible third attempt on Trump's life. In July 2024 he was shot in the ear at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. That September, a man was found hiding in the bushes with a gun at his Florida golf course.
Bruce Springsteen in London in October 2025Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty
Springsteen's prayer for Trump comes after years of publicly sparring with the president. Most recently, Trump referred to Springsteen as a "dried up prune" following the rocker's criticism of ICE and ongoing comments he's made from the stage while on his Land of Hope and Dreams American tour.
In March, Springsteen addressed his fans in Minneapolis and said America is "currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration.”
Springsteen had endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and called Trump "the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime."
"He doesn't understand the meaning of this country, its history, or what it means to be deeply American," Springsteen said at the time.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
