Green Day has ignited controversy days before their performance at Super Bowl LX’s opening ceremony, deliberately modifying lyrics in two of their most iconic songs to make a pointed political statement. The band’s frontman Billie Joe Armstrong used a high-profile pre-Super Bowl event in San Francisco to swap out familiar lines with critiques aimed at the MAGA movement, political figures, and broader cultural issues — fueling debate about the role of music and politics at one of the year’s most-watched events.
At Spotify’s The FanDuel Party on February 6, just days before the big game on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California, Green Day performed selections from their catalog, but with a clear twist. During a rendition of “American Idiot,” Armstrong replaced the well-known line “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” with:
“I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.”
He also altered lyrics to “Holiday,” turning the interlude “The representative from California has the floor” into:
“The representative from Epstein Island has the floor.”
These edits were widely interpreted as direct calls at former President Donald Trump, the broader MAGA movement, and high-profile scandals that have circulated in recent political discourse. The band also dedicated part of the set “to Minneapolis” — referencing tensions in that city following a major Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that resulted in civilian deaths, which has been widely condemned across the U.S.
Green Day have a long history of infusing political commentary into their music, especially through Armstrong’s vocal delivery and on-stage remarks. This isn’t the band’s first time to adjust lyrics for political emphasis: in 2025 they altered “American Idiot” during a festival in Johannesburg to say “I’m not part of the Elon agenda,” and changed lines targeting public figures at other live shows.
At the San Francisco show, Armstrong took aim at ICE agents, directly urging them to “quit your s—ty job” ahead of Super Bowl weekend, claiming that when political tides shift, agencies and their enforcers will be left behind by the leaders who supported them.
The band’s provocative messaging arrives amid heightened scrutiny over politics and the Super Bowl stage. Their presence in the game’s opening festivities — viewed by millions worldwide — has already triggered commentary from political figures, including former President Trump, who condemned Green Day and halftime performer Bad Bunny as “divisive” choices for the event.
Critics argue that injecting political rhetoric into what is traditionally a broadly appealing entertainment platform risks alienating audiences and politicizing a sporting celebration meant to unite viewers across ideological lines. Supporters, however, see Armstrong’s choices as an extension of punk’s countercultural roots and a legitimate use of artistic voice on a global stage.
Despite the controversy, Green Day is still scheduled to perform at the Super Bowl opening ceremony, which features a musical showcase honoring the league’s history and MVPs before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kickoff. The performance is expected to air live on major U.S. networks around 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 8, and may offer further insight into whether the band will continue its politically charged stance on one of America’s biggest entertainment platforms.
