Elon Musk, the CEO of X, took aim at Green Day after the band modified the lyrics of their song “American Idiot” during a New Year’s Eve performance to critique Donald Trump and his supporters. Musk responded to a post comparing the band to the iconic Steve Buscemi “How do you do, fellow kids” meme by mocking Green Day for switching from “raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it.” He wasn’t alone in his criticism, as others also expressed their disapproval of Green Day’s attempt to stay relevant and criticized the band for trying to appeal to the average American while making more money than their talent dictates. The band’s lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, has a history of being politically outspoken and expressing disdain for conservatives. In an interview, Armstrong even compared Trump to Adolf Hitler.
Armstrong’s disdain for Trump and his supporters has not gone unnoticed by critics, who have pointed out that the very audience he counts on for support largely consists of the demographic he claims to be criticizing. Overall, Musk and other critics suggest that Green Day’s attempt to paint themselves as rebels and political commentators falls flat, given their own privileged position and the disconnect between the band and their fan base.
