Several artists used the Grammy Awards on Sunday to criticize President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, turning the music industry’s biggest night into a platform for political protest.
Billie Eilish condemned the administration’s policies while accepting the Song of the Year award for “Wildflower,” telling the audience, “no one is illegal on stolen land.” She added that it was difficult to know “what to say and what to do right now,” before finishing with an expletive aimed at ICE a remark CBS censored during the broadcast.
Bad Bunny echoed that message after winning Best Música Urbana Album for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” telling the crowd, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out,” drawing a standing ovation. The Puerto Rican rapper added, “We’re not savages. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.”
The comments come amid mounting criticism of the administration’s expanded ICE and Customs and Border Protection operations, intensified after two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
Other artists also spoke out. Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean said she was “the granddaughter of an immigrant” and called for recognition of immigrant communities. Several attendees wore “ICE Out” pins, while Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon said his orange whistle honored community observers in Minneapolis who alert residents to federal agents’ presence.
Trump responded early Monday on Truth Social, calling the Grammys “virtually unwatchable.”
