Green Day opened the Super Bowl with a short performance that quickly drew attention for what was missing. While ending their set with American Idiot, the band skipped a lyric they have recently used to criticize Donald Trump.
In recent years, Green Day has changed one line of the song to reference the “MAGA agenda.” During the Super Bowl performance, that line was not sung at all. The band moved past it, which many viewers noticed immediately.
Some fans felt the decision was a deliberate attempt to avoid controversy on one of the world’s biggest stages. Others were annoyed for a different reason, saying parts of Green Day’s performance were barely shown on television in some regions, leading to complaints about the broadcast.
Despite skipping the lyric during the game, the band has not been quiet in recent days. At events around the Super Bowl, Green Day openly criticized US immigration policies and political leaders, making their position clear.
The performance showed how carefully artists sometimes choose their moments. By leaving out the lyric, Green Day avoided a direct political clash during the Super Bowl, but the omission itself became a talking point among viewers afterward.