In 2004, Green Day released American Idiot, one of their most popular albums, and a series of songs mostly about suburban ennui during George W. Bush’s presidency. A few years later, American Idiot was adapted into a popular Broadway musical. It was a fairly politically incendiary work from a band clearly in the punk tradition.
More recently, Green Day has, at times, adapted the lyrics to those songs to specifically reference more current events. They did this to call out Donald Trump and Elon Musk at a concert in San Francisco last month and did it again at Coachella on Saturday night:
🚨🇺🇸 Green Day calls out Trump and Elon Musk in a live performance of their song ‘Holiday,’ in which they alter the lyrics:
“Hear the Trump poundin’ out of time
Another protester has crossed the line
To find the money’s on the Elon Musk [side]” pic.twitter.com/9Gf1MxRyl8— Psychedelic Socialist (@Acid_Communist) April 13, 2025
Frontman Billie Armstrong, in the song “American Idiot,” changed the lyric “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda.” And in the song “Jesus of Suburbia,” the lyrics was changed “Runnin’ away from pain when you’ve been victimized” to “Runnin’ away from pain like the kids from Palestine.”
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In reaction to the lyrics change many people on social media seemed surprised that Green Day “got political” or went from agreeing with their politics to disagreeing.
I miss the old Green Day.
— Based MAGA Wizard (@BasedWizard72) April 13, 2025
You mean this Green Day?
Have you read the lyrics?
Did you think the flag in the background of the video was to show support of this country?
Genuinely, how did you come to the conclusion that they weren’t always political? https://t.co/JSpzIy6d0F pic.twitter.com/fEntFHvdcF— Nikki (@Nikkicron) April 14, 2025
green day didnt release american idiot in 2004, constantly call out trump and bush, drop 21st century breakdown in 2009, then revolution radio in 2016, have billie scream „no trump no kkk no fascist usa” and write a ton of political songs just to be called WOKE in 2025 pic.twitter.com/0zAj0ynjox
— aldie (@b8rcas) April 14, 2025
The political controversy is separate from another controversy that arose from Green Day’s performance at Coachella when many fans of Charli XCX — including, it appears, Charli XCX herself — were vocally upset that Green Day was chosen to headline the Saturday session of Coachella over Charli.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
