Green Day's Super Bowl performance did the unexpected

Green Day surprised us before the Super Bowl.
 By 
Tim Marcin
 on 
Green day performing on stage
Credit: Anna Webber/Getty Images for Spotify

Green Day performed before the Super Bowl kicked off on Sunday, with lots of folks expecting a political statement from the oft-opinionated rock band. But on America's biggest stage the band opted not to make an overtly anti-Trump or anti-ICE statement — which came as a bit of a surprise.

Recommended deals for you

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $199.00 (List Price $249.00)

Ring Indoor Cam Plus 2K Wired Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $99.99 (List Price $119.98)

Apple iPad 11" 128GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (Blue, 2025 Release) — $399.99 (List Price $449.00)

Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $349.99 (List Price $399.00)

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Midnight Blue) — $198.00 (List Price $248.00)

Products available for purchase through affiliate links. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.

To be clear, the band has been known for its outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump and ICE. In recent performances, for instance, singer Billy Joe Armstrong has criticized the "MAGA agenda" during the song "American Idiot." The band did play the song on Sunday but opted to skip that lyric.

Happy Green Day and Bad Bunny Day

— Karly Kingsley (@karlykingsley.bsky.social) February 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM

It's not entirely surprising that Green Day would not make an explicit political statement — the NFL is a relatively careful organization and it might not want the headlines that would follow. It remains to be seen, however, if Bad Bunny will talk politics during the halftime show.


You May Also Like

Topics Super Bowl

close-up of man's face
Tim Marcin
Associate Editor, Culture

Tim Marcin is an Associate Editor on the culture team at Mashable, where he mostly digs into the weird parts of the internet. You'll also see some coverage of memes, tech, sports, trends, and the occasional hot take. You can find him on Bluesky (sometimes), Instagram (infrequently), or eating Buffalo wings (as often as possible).

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You

Hank Green apologizes for relying too heavily on ChatGPT
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 17: John and Hank Green attend the 3rd Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala on November 17, 2015 in New York City.


For creators like Hank Green, AI is now a reputational risk
A man wearing glasses standing on stage

What is a 'super app'? Understanding the AI industry's newest trend.
A person using an AI chatbot to code

More in Life

How to watch Dortmund vs. Werder Bremen online for free
Maximilian Beier of Borussia Dortmund celebrates a goal

How to watch F1 live streams online for free
Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari

Free F1 livestream: How to watch the Singapore GP for free this weekend
Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving

From Facebook to FTX: 9 tech movies and shows to watch this fall
A general view of the screen during the Social Reckoning world premiere at Regal Union Square on October 04, 2026 in New York City.

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 9, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

Hurricane Isaias: See Gulf Coast webcams live, including Pensacola, Florida
A truck with emergency lights is parked on a beach as stormy clouds loom above.

Tropical Storm Rachel: Track the storm’s path online
A path projection of Tropical Storm Rachel.

What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 9, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.