Watch: Bruce Springsteen Condemns Government Censorship and Divisiveness During “Land of Hope and Dreams” Performance at New York Film Festival

Photo: Danny Clinch

On Sunday evening, Bruce Springsteen delivered a surprise performance, which followed the New York Film Festival premiere of the Jeremy Allen White-cast Deliver Me From Nowhere, which focuses on the Nebraska chapter of the Boss’ career. During the artist and activist’s stage time, Springsteen played “Land of Hope and Dreams” and spoke candidly about government censorship. 

The film, which will hit theaters on October 24, 2025, played at Manhattan’s Alice Tully Hall, with featured actors White, Jeremy Strong, Stephen Graham, and other contributors in attendance to discuss their work on the major motion picture. Springsteen was also on deck, extending thanks to White for playing a “better-looking version” of himself, before addressing the crowd about his growing concern for the nation. 

“These days, we have daily events reminding us of the fact that we’re living through these particularly dangerous times. I spent my life on the road, moving around the world as kind of a musical ambassador for America… Trying to measure the distance between American reality, where we’ve often fallen short of our ideals,” Springsteen imparted.

“But for a lot of folks out there, she continues to be a land of hope and dreams, not of fear or divisiveness or government censorship or hatred,” He said with conviction, before performing his own mission-building arc via “Land of Hope and Dreams.” Watch below. 

Bruce @springsteen performing Land Of Hope And Dreams tonight. #springsteen #delivermefromnowhere pic.twitter.com/x0nvgqzOKj

— Spring-Nuts (@SpringNuts_) September 29, 2025