Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong holds up “idiot” Donald Trump mask at ‘Saviors’ show

31 July, 2024

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong holding up a Donald Trump mask during a show in Washington DC

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong held up a Donald Trump mask at the band’s recent show in Washington, DC. Watch the videos below.

The trio performed at the city’s Nationals Park stadium on Monday (July 29), marking the first stop on their North American ‘Saviors’ tour. Support came from Rancid, The Linda Lindas and Smashing Pumpkins.

At one point in the concert, Armstrong held up a Trump mask with the word “idiot” written across its forehead. He showed the prop to the crowd during the ‘American Idiot’ section of the gig. It is reported that the mask was thrown onto the stage by a fan in the front row.

Armstrong also switched up a line in the ‘American Idiot’ title track. He sang, “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda” instead of the original line, “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda“, as he has done at previous shows.

Some Trump supporters have criticised Green Day’s mask stunt, suggesting it was in poor taste following the assassination attempt on the Republican presidential candidate earlier this month.

However, others have noted that Armstrong and co. have long been vocal critics of Trump. At the American Music Awards (AMA) in 2016, the band led a chant of “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA”.

Last summer, the group launched a limited edition t-shirt featuring Trump‘s mugshot for charity. The ‘Ultimate Nimrod’ item used Trump’s viral mugshot to recreate their iconic ‘Nimrod’ cover, with the album’s title covering Trump’s face.

In 2018, the ‘American Idiot’ single soared up the charts in the UK as part of a campaign in protest against Trump’s visit to these shores.

During the original ‘American Idiot’ tour, Armstrong was pictured donning a mask of then-President George W. Bush with the word “idiot” written across the forehead.

Speaking to NME in 2016, Armstrong blamed the rise of Trump on “uneducated white working-class people” people and compared him to Hitler. He also told a Trump-sympathising fan to stop listening to Green Day’s music.

Armstrong previously revealed that some of his family were Trump supporters. “I’ve got family members from Oklahoma that are big Trump supporters,” he said. “And there’s no clear answer on why they’re supporting him because he doesn’t even have any policies.”

Meanwhile, Tenacious D recently cancelled their tour and put “all future creative plans” on hold after band member Kyle Gass made a controversial comment about the assassination attempt on Trump.

Gass has since reportedly been dropped by his talent agency, and has deleted his apology post on Instagram.

Vice President Kamala Harris is now up against Trump in the race to become the next POTUS after President Joe Biden stepped down this month. The Democratic candidate has been endorsed by the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo and Olivia Rodrigo.

In other news, Green Day have shared the official music video for their latest single ‘Corvette Summer’, starring Mark Hamill.

Green Day performing in Manchester on the Saviors tour
Green Day performing in Manchester on the ‘Saviors’ tour. CREDIT: Greg Schneider/Supplied

Green Day embarked on the UK and European leg of their ‘Saviors’ stadium tour earlier this summer. Find any remaining tickets for the current North American dates here.

NME gave Green Day’s show in Manchester last month a full five stars, writing: “With Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer all playing UK shows over the month, it’s an understatement to say rock fans are spoilt for choice.

“The pick of the bunch, however, might just be Green Day’s ‘Saviors’ tour: combining class, youthfulness and scruffy punk anthems into a trademark stadium-rock event.”

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