Green Day Bash “MAGA Agenda” During “American Idiot” Performance on ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

used their performance on on Sunday night to make the ABC special’s audience aware of their political views. During a performance of the group’s 2004 hit “American Idiot,” initially written during George W. Bush’s presidency about the Iraq war, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong changed the lyrics from, “I’m not part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda.” The tweak, which the rockers previously made , seemed directed at former President and his supporters who have embraced his “Make America Great Again” slogan.

The moment has sparked a backlash from a number of social media users, including Trump supporters. Among those going after the band was star , who wrote, “Punk rock is pro big government.” But this is far from the first time the group and Armstrong have gone after Trump. In August 2016, , “The worst problem I see about Trump is who his followers are.

I actually feel bad for them, because they’re poor, working class people who can’t get a leg up. They’re pissed off and he’s preyed on their anger.” “He just said, ‘You have no options and I’m the only one, and I’m going to take care of it myself.’ I mean, that’s f—ing Hitler, man!” he continued.

“I don’t even know how else to explain it. I wish I were over exaggerating. And sometimes maybe I do over exaggerate with Bush. But with Trump, I just can’t wait until he’s gone.” At the 2016 American Music Awards, the band yelled “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” during the performance of their song “Bang Bang.” And in 2017, during the band’s tour, Armstrong would shout “Fuck you, Donald Trump!” while performing “American Idiot.” “I want people to feel unity when they come to a show.

At the same time, I’m not going to puss out on saying what I feel about him and his administration,” Armstrong . “There are a lot of people in the quote, unquote red states that get a big sense of relief when I say something like ‘Fuck you, Trump.’ That’s because they’re in the minority where they live and at our shows they get this sort of release,” he continued.

After Trump was charged with attempting to interfere with Georgia’s election process in the 2020 presidential race and his mugshot was released in August, the group with the phrase over Trump’s booking photo. Proceeds from the limited edition merch went to the Greater Good Music charity, which Green Day noted at the time was bringing food to those affected by the Maui wildfires.

On , Green Day also performed hits “Basket Case” and “Welcome to Paradise,” off of their breakout album , celebrating its 30th anniversary; “Holiday,” from celebrating its 20th anniversary; and “Dilemma” from their new album , out Jan. 19, before the band embarks on a tour with Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and the Linda Lindas.

Dick Clark Productions, which produces , is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns . THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter.