Green Day called out Trump and called him a ‘terrible choice’ after the president refused to attend the Super Bowl

Green Day has never been part of the MAGA agenda. The California rock band has called out Donald Trump and his administration at several of their concerts, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon.

In recent years, the band, made up of members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Durant and Trey Cool, has replaced the lyrics to their iconic hit “American Idiot.” The song, written in 2004, originally featured “I’m not part of the redneck agenda.” Now, when performing the song live, Armstrong sings, “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda.” The song itself, and the title album written for it, was a direct criticism of the administration of George W. Bush and the Iraq War.

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Armstrong also takes a jab at Vice President J.D. Vance with revised lyrics to “Jesus of Suburbia.” So what’s the beef between the president and the band?

What did Green Day say about Donald Trump?

After Donald Trump was elected to office in November 2016, the band chanted “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA” during an appearance. American Music Awards.

On the first day of the first Trump administration, Billie Joe Armstrong wrote on Instagram about his immigration executive orders targeting countries with large Muslim populations: “I feel shocked. The executive order signed by Trump feels like retaliation. Trump is not taking revenge on people who opposed him, but also gave him the average American vote.”

He continued, “Health care, Muslim-Americans, immigration, environmental protection, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, women’s right to choose what to do with their bodies, suggestions to send the feds to Chicago . . . are signs of a man who is trying to redefine what holds our common union together. This is an attack on our civil liberties. His intention is to divide us as Americans. We may not agree on all these issues . . . but can’t we see eye to eye on some?”

In an interview with NME, Armstrong said Trump’s supporters were mostly “uneducated white working-class people”. Armstrong added: “That’s the problem. There’s this white nationalism that’s been spreading under the radar for a long time. But now [Trump’s] Being able to single people out and blame minorities is really misleading. I mean, at the same time there’s obvious abuse going on.”

“I have family members in Oklahoma who are big supporters of Trump. And there’s no clear answer as to why they’re supporting him because he has no policy,” he continued. “How can you have an opinion about who you want for leader of the free world when the guy running doesn’t have any answers?”

When the band performed in Washington, D.C., Armstrong emphasized that the emotions didn’t feel as intense or different as at other concerts. Beyond “f—k you,” honestly, said the lead singer Rolling Stone. “People know how I feel. I think going negative is throwing fuel on the fire. I think the government is trying to create a culture war between us in a lot of ways. They’re trying to get between your average citizen based on red and blue. I think we’re in crisis mode right now. For me, it’s important to get back to the basics. What it’s like for us all to come from this American world and the background that we all come from. It’s like a microcosm for the rest of the world when they come to an event, I’m going to say what I say about him and his administration.

Asked about his obligation to the Trump administration, Cool said, “I think we have an obligation to put on a fun show and put on a memorable concert, that’s energetic and that spreads joy and open-mindedness. If being open-minded and joyful is against your political beliefs, you know, screw you.”

In June 2025, Armstrong shared his feelings about the president. “Donald Trump is a fascist government in his administration,” Armstrong told the crowd at the Download Festival in Donington Park, UK. “And it’s up to us to fight back.”

Green Day was announced as a performer at the opening ceremony for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, just a few miles from the band’s roots. When asked if he would attend the football game, Trump told reporters he would not and then criticized the cast, including halftime performer Bad Bunny. “I’m against them. I think it’s a terrible choice. It’s all about sowing hate. Terrible,” Trump said.

In their first performance of 2026, the band made their stance loud and clear with the iconic “American Idiot” line. During a performance of “Holiday” and “Know Your Enemy”, Armstrong said, “This song is anti-fascism. This song is anti-war. We stand up for our brothers and sisters in Minnesota. … Ladies and gentlemen, Stephen Miller now has the floor,” referring to the ICE raids in Minneapolis that resulted in Alex’s pre-to-red line. Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller references.

Armstrong added similar sentiments when the band performed at the Super Bowl pre-show hosted by Spotify and Fanduel on Friday, February 6. “This goes out to all ICE agents out there. Wherever you are: Quit your ass. Quit that job you have.” He added, “Come to this end of the line.”

“Because when it’s over — and it will be over at some point — Christy Nome, Stephen Miller, J.D. Vance, Donald Trump, they’re going to drop you like a bad f–king habit.”

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