Green Day omits MAGA line in 'American Idiot' during Super Bowl pregame show

Lauren Chapman, The Sacramento Bee on Feb 8, 2026

Published in Football

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Bay Area rock band Green Day opened a celebration of the NFL’s 60th Super Bowl game with “Good Riddance” as football greats like Tom Brady, Jerry Rice and Peyton Manning walked onto the field.

After "Holiday"/"Boulevard of Broken Dreams," the band transitioned to "American Idiot" — a song originally written in protest of the Iraq War and the politics of former President George W. Bush.

Two years ago, Armstrong altered the lyrics of “American Idiot” from “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda,” according to USA Today.

However, the band dropped that lyric from the set.

Social media had mixed reactions.

The band two days earlier played a Spotify-sponsored show. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made his feelings on the current political environment clear as he urged any Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the crowd to quit their jobs, Variety reported.

“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------ habit. Come on this side of the line,” Armstrong said.

In January, the NFL stated that Green Day “will kick off the big game with an opening ceremony,” according to the NFL news release. The Seattle Seahawks are playing the New England Patriots in Sunday’s game.

After announcing he wouldn’t attend this year’s Super Bowl due to distance, President Donald Trump criticized the musical selections of Green Day and halftime headliner Bad Bunny.

“I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” Trump said.