"It's up to us to fight back": Green Day takes aim at Trump and Musk at Download Festival 2025

Green Day made their Download Festival debut at Donington Park on June 13, performing a headline set that included tracks from both early and recent albums.

The band played fan favorites from Dookie, such as "Basket Case," alongside newer songs like "Dilemma" and "Bobby Sox" from their 2024 album Saviors.

During their performance of American Idiot’s "Holiday," frontman Billie Joe Armstrong addressed the crowd with a political message. He said:

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are slipping into fascism… it’s up to us to fight back!"

He also asked the audience to call former President Donald Trump a “fat bastard.”

Armstrong later referenced Elon Musk, altering the lyrics of the song "American Idiot" to include the line:

"I’m not a part of the Elon agenda.”

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Green Day, Shakira, Doechii, and more artists slam Trump’s protest crackdown

Green Day's Download Fest 2025 appearance comes as several artists voice opposition to Trump’s recent political actions, including the use of military forces in response to protests against immigration enforcement.

Other musicians have also spoken out. At a protest in Los Angeles, Finneas claimed he was tear-gassed, writing:

“F—k ICE.”

Kim Gordon reworked her track "BYE BYE," incorporating terms reportedly restricted by the Trump administration, such as “advocate,” “climate change,” “female,” “Hispanic,” and “immigrants.”

Music icon Shakira also spoke of her personal concerns as an immigrant, stating she lives in “constant fear.”

Addison Rae, who just unleashed her debut album Addison on June 6, described recent events as “disappointing and disturbing.”

Olivia Rodrigo also participated in protests, writing:

“LA simply wouldn’t exist without immigrants.”

At the BET Awards 2025, Doechii commented on government actions during protests, saying:

“Trump is using military forces to stop a protest. I want you all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that?”

However, not all responses have aligned. OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder shared a different view, calling the protests against Trump a “super bummer.”

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Billie Joe Armstrong shares punk cover in tribute to Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson

Meanwhile, Billie Joe Armstrong released a cover of the Beach Boys’ "I Get Around" in tribute to Brian Wilson. On his Instagram, the Green Day frontman wrote:

“Thank you Brian Wilson. I recorded a cover of ‘I Get Around’ a few years ago, never got to share it. One of my all-time favourite songs ever.”

The energetic rendition transforms the Beach Boys’ 1964 classic into a fast-paced punk track, showcasing Armstrong’s own musical style while keeping the heart of the original melody intact.

Armstrong’s tribute adds to a wave of remembrances shared by musicians across generations. Apart from the punk icon, the likes of Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Sting, and many more legends shared their heartfelt tribute to Brian Wilson.