The echoes of protest music are resonating once more, this time with the unmistakable sound of U2. The Irish rock band has released “American Obituary,” a searing track from their new six-song EP, Days of Ash, directly confronting the policies and aftermath of the Trump era, specifically focusing on the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Released on Thursday, February 19, the EP arrives alongside a growing chorus of artists – including Bruce Springsteen, Jesse Welles, Neil Young, and Kim Gordon – using their platforms to address political and social issues through music.
“American Obituary” isn’t arriving in a vacuum. The song is a direct response to a series of events, including the death of Renee Nicole Excellent, a 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7. Springsteen’s “Street of Minneapolis” and Welles’ “Join ICE” also address this incident, highlighting a pattern of concern over ICE’s conduct. U2’s new EP also turns its attention to conflicts in Iran, Africa, Israel-Palestine, and Ukraine, demonstrating a broad scope of engagement with global crises.
This return to overtly political songwriting marks a shift for U2, following albums like Songs of Innocence (2013) and Songs of Experience (2017) which delved into personal and biographical themes, and Songs of Surrender (2023), a largely acoustic revisiting of their catalog. However, political engagement has long been a hallmark of the band, and particularly of frontman Bono, whose activism extends to issues of social justice, poverty, and global health, with a strong focus on Africa.
The band’s history of politically charged lyrics dates back decades. “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” released in the 1980s, addressed the 1972 massacre in Derry, Northern Ireland, where British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a protest. “Pride (In the Name of Love)” served as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., demonstrating a consistent willingness to use their music as a platform for social commentary.
The timing of this release is particularly pointed. According to Newsweek, 2025 saw ICE’s deadliest year in two decades, with thirty-two deaths in custody. Concerns have been raised regarding the agency’s practices, including arrests conducted without due process, the detention of children, and allegations of racial profiling. The shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse shot by Border Patrol in January, further intensified these tensions. Bono has previously been critical of former President Donald Trump, and this new EP appears to be a continuation of that critique, specifically focusing on the consequences of his administration’s immigration policies, which were central to his 2024 re-election bid.
U2’s willingness to engage with these demanding subjects places them within a larger trend of artists responding to the current political climate. The release of “American Obituary” and the Days of Ash EP invites listeners to confront the human cost of policy and the ongoing struggles for justice and accountability. The band has not yet announced plans for a tour supporting the EP, but the music is available on all major streaming platforms.
As the debate surrounding immigration policy and ICE’s practices continues, U2’s contribution adds another voice to the conversation, prompting reflection and demanding attention to the stories often lost in the headlines. The band’s next scheduled public appearance is at the Global Citizen Festival in September 2026, where they are expected to perform selections from the new EP alongside their classic hits.
What are your thoughts on U2’s new EP and its political message? Share your opinions in the comments below.
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