Green Day Takes Aim at Donald Trump by Changing “American Idiot” Lyrics
Green Day changed the lyrics in one of their best-known songs to slam Donald Trump during a televised New Year’s Eve performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong swapped the line “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” for “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda” in the hit song “American Idiot,” which was released in 2004 and was designed to be a statement against former President George W. Bush and the Iraq war.
Videos of their performance have circulated on social media, with many fans expressing support for the band’s message.
This is not the first time the band has taken a swipe at the former president. At the American Music Awards in Los Angeles in 2016, the band yelled “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” during a performance of the song “Bang Bang.”
“I f—ing hate Donald Trump so much,” Armstrong has also previously said, according to Variety.
In August, the band was quick to respond to news of Trump’s indictment and mugshot, with the group selling new merchandise that incorporated Trump’s booking photo and their 1997 “Nimrod” album cover.
“Good Riddance,” Green Day said in an Instagram post announcing the merch, adding: “The ultimate Nimrod shirt is available for 72 hours only. Limited edition shirt proceeds will be donated to @greatergoodmusiccharity.”
The group is due to release a new album later this month, which it described on YouTube as “an invitation into Green Day’s brain” and “their collective spirit.”
It’s not unusual for musicians to use their platform to express their political views, and Green Day is no exception. Through their music and merchandise, the band continues to make their stance against Donald Trump and the agendas they believe he represents.