Bruce Springsteen and Robert De Niro have announced their departure from the United States following Donald Trump’s victorious return to the White House. The legendary musician and the iconic actor, both vocal critics of Trump, cited the country’s political climate as the reason for their departures, saying they no longer feel respected or valued in the nation they once championed.

“This is not the America I sang about,” Springsteen said, standing on the steps of his New Jersey home at a news conference. “I’ve spent my career writing about this country, its people, its struggles. But after this election, I feel like I’m writing a farewell letter.”

De Niro, who joined Springsteen for the announcement, didn’t mince words. “This place has gone off the rails,” he said. “People have spoken and apparently they don’t want us anymore. Fine. We’ll go somewhere where we’ll be appreciated.”

Springsteen, affectionately known as “The Boss,” has long been a voice of the working class, his songs chronicling the hopes and struggles of ordinary Americans. But with Trump’s reelection, he says those dreams seem increasingly out of reach.

“I’ve always believed in the potential of America,” Springsteen said. “But this election feels like a huge step backward. It feels like the soul of this country is on pause.”

De Niro, a two-time Oscar winner, echoed that sentiment. Known for his fiery anti-Trump rhetoric, the actor said he no longer felt safe or respected in his home country. “I’ve been called names for speaking out against Trump,” he said. “At some point, you have to ask yourself: Is it worth it?”

While neither Springsteen nor De Niro have revealed their exact plans, speculation is rife. Some pundits suggest that Springsteen could settle in Ireland, a country he has often described as his second home. De Niro, whose father was of Italian descent, has hinted that he would settle in Tuscany, a region he has hailed as “the exact opposite of Mar-a-Lago.”

“If America can’t handle us, maybe Europe will,” De Niro joked. “At least they know how to treat artists there.”

The duo joked about creating a community for American expats, inviting “all the disillusioned dreamers” to join them. “We’ll call it ‘Heartbreak Hill,’” Springsteen said with a smile.

The announcement sparked an emotional reaction from fans and critics alike. Social media was flooded with messages of grief from Springsteen’s followers, many of whom viewed his departure as a symbolic loss to the nation.

“Bruce is leaving? It’s like America is losing its heartbeat,” one fan posted. “If The Boss can’t take it anymore, what hope do we have for the rest of us?”

De Niro’s announcement also sparked strong reactions, with some applauding his decision and others criticizing it as overly dramatic. “De Niro talks tough, but now he runs away? Typical of the Hollywood elite,” wrote one of his most combative fans.

Not everyone is mourning the loss. Conservative pundits were quick to celebrate the news, casting it as a victory for the Trump administration. “De Niro and Springsteen leaving is proof that America is better off with Trump,” tweeted one prominent right-wing influencer. “Maybe they’ll take the rest of Hollywood with them.”

Fox News anchors mocked the announcement, suggesting the two stars were “throwing tantrums” because they didn’t get what they wanted. “They’ve been threatening to leave for years,” one anchor said. “Don’t let the door hit you when you leave.”

Unsurprisingly, both Springsteen and De Niro took the opportunity to criticize Trump one last time before they left office. Springsteen called Trump’s re-election “a tragedy for everyone who believes in decency and fairness,” while De Niro called the former president “the biggest fraud ever sold to the American people.”

Their comments resonated with many fans, but further fueled their detractors. “These guys still think they’re the conscience of America,” one commenter said. “News flash: no one listens anymore.”

Despite their disappointment, neither Springsteen nor De Niro have any plans to retire. Springsteen has hinted that he will release an album inspired by his feelings of exile, tentatively тιтled Songs for a Lost America. De Niro is reportedly in talks for a film project exploring the lives of American expatriates.

“I’ll keep making music, no matter where I am,” Springsteen said. “You can take me out of America, but you can’t take America out of me.”

De Niro, ever the performer, concluded the press conference with a touch of drama. “This is not goodbye, this is ‘see you later,’” he said. “And when America decides to come to its senses, maybe we’ll come back.”

The departure of two cultural icons underscores the growing divide in America’s political and social landscape. For some, their decision to leave feels like a betrayal; for others, it’s a bold act of protest against a nation they believe has lost its way.

As one fan put it: “If Springsteen and De Niro can no longer find hope here, what does that say about the rest of us?”

Only time will tell whether their departure will bring about change or simply add fuel to an already burning fire. But one thing is for sure: America will not be the same without them.