Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong delivered a pointed message to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) agents. during a Super Bowl pre-party in San Francisco on Friday evening.
The 53-year-old, who’s no stranger to publicly voicing his opposition to the Trump administration, used his platform to condemn their occupation and urge them to reconsider their career choices.
Performing at the FanDuel and Spotify-sponsored event on Pier 29, Mr Armstrong addressed Ice agents directly from the stage.
“To all the Ice agents out there, wherever you are, quit your s***ty-a*s job,” Mr Armstrong began.
Green Day will perform ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl
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He repeated: “Quit that s***ty job you have. Because when this is over — and it will be over at some point in time — Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, JD Vance, Donald Trump, they’re gonna drop you like a bad f***ing habit.
“Come on this side of the line,” the singer signed off to cheers from the invitation-only crowd.
The punk rock veteran also modified lyrics throughout the set to reflect current political concerns.
During the band’s rendition of Holiday, Mr Armstrong altered the original line “the representative from California has the floor” to instead reference “Epstein Island.”
Green Day have been vocal critics of Trump for years
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Before performing the track, he offered a dedication “to Minneapolis,” a nod to Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by Ice agents in Minnesota over the past month.
Mr Armstrong has maintained his practice of substituting words in American Idiot, singing “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda” rather than the original “redneck agenda” — a change he has made for years during live performances.
Video footage of the politically charged set spread rapidly across social media, although it drew a rather mixed reception from X users.
Among those who took issue with Mr Armstrong’s outburst was one X user who hit out: “Oh look that Soy Boy from Green Day is already turning Super Bowl weekend into political ‘bash fest’ against President Trump and ICE! This is exactly what Roger Goodell wanted.” (sic)
A second echoed: “How about you just STFU and play the only three or four chords you know instead, dork? I can’t STAND this band, dude. I’ve NEVER liked them. EVER.” (sic)
“Super Bowl weekend turns into an anti-ICE sermon: Green Day’s frontman attacks agents doing their jobs and dares them to ‘come on this side.’ Fans aren’t paying for propaganda,” a third raged.
While a fourth concurred: “Oh great. While the majority of ads will inspire patriotism, this clown spews nothing but hate. The @SuperBowl has got be thrilled.”
And even one of the band’s self-proclaimed fans weighed in: “I love Green Day. But, when I am paying to go to a concert, I want to hear music. Not to hear political bulls**t.”
Donald Trump has branded Green Day’s appointment at the Super Bowl as ‘terrible’
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GETTYHowever, there was also plenty of support for Mr Armstrong, with many applauding the singer for using the world’s biggest sporting event to take aim at the president.
“Hope ICE is listening to his words and writing their resignations right now. #DemsUnited,” one X user applauded.
A second added: “Defining moment tomorrow for the powerful, iconic and important Green Day. America needs them to NOT be silent. If they lose money, they can afford it. And they’ll again be on the right side of history. As they have been so many times before.
“And if the Democrats were smart, they’d recruit Billy Joe Armstrong to run for office. Defund and disband ICE.”
Another typed: “At Super Bowl Weekend, Green Day calls out ICE and Trump. This is going to be the greatest Super Bowl ever!”
The punk-rock trio is scheduled to take the stage at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara for the Super Bowl LX opening ceremony on Sunday, where they will usher generations of Super Bowl MVPs onto the field before the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots.
However, President Trump has made his displeasure with the booking clear, telling the New York Post: “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible.”
Bad Bunny, another vocal critic of the Trump administration and Ice, will headline the halftime entertainment on Sunday.
Billie Joe Armstrong urged Ice agents to quit
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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had previously warned that Ice would “be all over that place” following the Puerto Rican artist’s booking.
However, NFL chief security officer Cathy L Lanier sought to reassure fans during a press conference on Wednesday, stating there are “no planned Ice enforcement activities” at the stadium. “We are confident of that,” she added.