Bruce Springsteen labels ‘moron’ Donald Trump’s rise a ‘tragedy for democracy’

‘The whole thing is tragic. Without overstating it, it’s a tragedy for democracy’, rock star says

The 67-year-old also accused the real-estate mogul of having ‘simple answers to very complex problems’ (Getty)

Bruce Springsteen has labelled Donald Trump a “moron” and decried his contest as the Republican nominee a “tragedy for our democracy”.

The legendary rock musician branded Mr Trump’s rise to popularity “tragic” and said it was “dangerous” that his provocative rhetoric has now entered the mainstream.

“The republic is under siege by a moron, basically,” he told Rolling Stone. “The whole thing is tragic. Without overstating it, it’s a tragedy for democracy. The ideas he’s moving to the mainstream are all very dangerous ideas.”

The 67-year-old also accused the real-estate mogul of having “simple answers to very complex problems” and suggested these “fallacious answers” might just be part of his appeal with voters.

Springsteen has previously endorsed Democrat candidates such as Barack Obama and performed at rallies for the outgoing commander-in-chief. However, this year he has been much less vocal about the political arena, saying he believed that as a musician he only has a limited amount of impact.

“I haven’t really lost faith in what I consider to be the small amount of impact that somebody in rock music might be able to have,” he said. “I don’t think people go to musicians for their political points of view. I think your political point of view is circumstances and then how you were nurtured and brought up. But it’s worth giving a shot when it’s the only thing you have.”

Springsteen also didn’t hold back when appearing on the Norweigan-Swedish chat show Skavlan recently, saying about Mr Trump: “I don't think he’s gonna win but even him running is a great embarrassment if you are American.”

Unsurprisingly, Springsteen endorsed Hillary Clinton saying he thinks she would be a “very, very good president”.

Mr Trump has not responded to Springsteen’s comments. The Independent has sought a response.