Tom Morello slams Trump, backs Bruce Springsteen, and defends Harvard at Boston Calling.
Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello turned his solo set at Boston Calling Music Festival into a full-blown political protest—and he didn’t hold back.
With a wall of “F-ck Trump” buttons glowing behind him and a guitar that screamed “F-ck I.C.E.,” the legendary guitarist made it crystal clear: he’s not here for tyranny, injustice, or Trump’s war on truth.
“Welcome, brothers and sisters, to the last big event before they throw us all in jail,” Morello told the roaring crowd at the Harvard Athletic Complex, setting the tone for a performance that was equal parts rock concert and political rally.
And it wasn’t just about music. Morello took the opportunity to show his support for fellow rocker Bruce Springsteen, who recently found himself in a very public standoff with Donald Trump.
“Bruce is going after Trump because Bruce, his whole life, he’s been about truth, justice, democracy, equality,” Morello said. “And Trump is mad at him because Bruce draws a bigger audience. F-ck that guy.”
A Rage-Fueled Set With a Purpose Tom Morello’s performance wasn’t just a setlist—it was a statement. He delivered a powerful cover of Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” a song steeped in working-class struggle and resilience. The choice was no coincidence.
Trump is gonna love Tom Morello’s backdrop for his set @bostoncalling at Harvard’s athletic complex 🔥….btw Tom is a Harvard alum!
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) May 26, 2025
📷by @CallItAsISeeIt7 pic.twitter.com/fE5vOOfnnr
Morello was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Springsteen—and thousands of other artists—who’ve called out Trump’s administration for its policies and behavior.
He also played Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”—but not the sanitized version we all learned in school. “It’s a beautiful song, but they censored out all the verses that explain what the song is really about,” Morello told the audience. “This is a revolutionary anthem.”
With passion in his voice, he reminded fans that Guthrie’s song was a battle cry against greed and power grabs. “Authoritarians and billionaires think this country belongs to them,” Morello said. “Woody Guthrie knew that this land is yours.”
Harvard Roots and Civic Action But Morello’s message wasn’t only musical—it was educational. As a proud Harvard alum (Class of ’86, B.A. in political science, thank you very much), he stood up for his alma mater’s recent clash with the Trump administration.
Harvard is suing the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies over attempts to block international students from attending the school. And after Harvard refused to cave to federal pressure, the Department of Education froze all federal grant money to the university.
Morello used his stage to shine a light on Harvard’s free online course, “We the People: Civic Engagement in a Constitutional Democracy.” He called it a tool for everyone who wants to understand the basics of U.S. government—and how to recognize when democracy’s under attack.
“It’s about understanding the Constitution and how to recognize a dictatorship takeover of your country,” he said.
A Guitar That Speaks Louder Than Words In true Tom Morello fashion, his guitar had something to say too. When he flipped it over mid-set, fans saw a bold, black-and-white message: “F-ck I.C.E.” It was a clear callout to Trump’s immigration policies, especially the administration’s history of detaining and deporting even U.S. citizens while ignoring court orders.
On X (formerly Twitter), Morello summed up the night in four fiery words: “No retreat baby. No surrender.”
The Bigger Picture: Musicians Take a Stand Morello isn’t the only music legend speaking out. Just last week, Neil Young tore into Trump, saying, “Bruce and thousands of musicians think you are ruining America… I am not scared of you. Neither are the rest of us.”
Together, Springsteen, Morello, Young, and countless others are turning up the volume—not just on stage, but in the national conversation. They’re using their platforms to fight for justice, equality, and basic human rights.
Source ROLLING STONE
