Green Day’s inclusion in the Super Bowl pregame lineup sparked immediate debate, largely due to the current global climate and the band’s long-standing reputation for speaking their mind. While many expected a pointed moment from the group, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has already managed to fuel conversation — and the band hasn’t even taken the televised stage yet.
Set to open the Super Bowl Opening Ceremony at 6 p.m. EST on Friday, February 7, alongside Brandi Carlile and others, Green Day are widely seen as the first potential flashpoint in what is shaping up to be a closely watched evening. With strong reactions already surrounding Latin star Bad Bunny’s upcoming halftime performance, tensions and discussion appear likely to build as the night unfolds.
Two days ahead of Green Day’s appearance at the Super Bowl opening ceremony, Billie Joe Armstrong showed that the surrounding football spectacle hadn’t muted his views on current issues. While performing at a Spotify-sponsored Super Bowl party on Friday night, the frontman urged ICE agents to step down, suggesting they would ultimately be abandoned by the Trump administration regardless.
“To all the ICE agents out there, wherever you are, quit your sh**ty-a** job. Quit that sh**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**king habit. Come on this side of the line.”
During the set, Armstrong again altered lines from “American Idiot,” shifting “I’m not part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda” (via Variety). He also referenced one of the most widely discussed subjects right now, modifying “the representative from California has the floor” to “the representative from Epstein Island has the floor.”
He offered a dedication prior to “Holiday“, saying: “This goes out to Minneapolis.”
Green Day were selected in part due to their deep ties to the Bay Area, where this year’s Super Bowl is being held, along with their continued status as a major stadium draw more than 35 years into their career.
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly denounced the musical lineup for Super Bowl LX, specifically targeting halftime headliner Bad Bunny and opening ceremony performers Green Day. Additionally, the President confirmed he will not be in attendance at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, when the game takes place on February 8.
“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump stated.
Trump, who appeared at last year’s Super Bowl in New Orleans, cited logistical reasons for skipping the 2026 championship game. He explicitly mentioned the travel distance from Washington D.C. to the West Coast as the deciding factor.
“I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter,” Trump explained. “It’s just too far away.”
