This year’s Grammy Awards featured a wave of pointed political commentary, with multiple artists using the stage to criticize Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). From host Trevor Noah’s opening monologue to speeches by Olivia Dean, Billie Eilish and Bad Bunny, the 68th Annual Grammy Awards unfolded with politics firmly in the spotlight.
The music industry’s biggest night took place last night, celebrating chart-topping artists and landmark achievements, but the ceremony was repeatedly punctuated by statements addressing the Trump administration and its immigration policies. Several winners directly referenced Donald Trump, condemned ICE operations, and called for unity in a climate many described as fearful and divisive.
Host Trevor Noah set the mood early, joking during his monologue that Nicki Minaj had skipped the ceremony because she was still at the White House discussing “important issues” with Donald Trump — specifically, whose posterior was bigger.
Noah then slipped into a Trump impression: “Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass, everybody’s saying it Nicki.” Minaj recently referred to herself as Donald Trump’s “number one fan,” a comment that led some of her supporters to publicly discard her music.
Noah continued with sharp political humor, telling viewers the broadcast was airing “completely live” because “if we edited any of the show, the president would sue CBS for $16 billion,” a nod to Trump’s lawsuit against 60 Minutes over an edited interview with Kamala Harris.
He also joked about Trump’s reported interest in Greenland, adding: “Because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
Following the ceremony, Trump responded on Truth Social.
“Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!! I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory, statement, have never been accused being there, not even by the Fake News Media,” the post said. “Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast. It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.C.”
The most overt political moment of the night came from Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who won Album of the Year for ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’ and used his acceptance speech to directly condemn ICE.
Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, became the first artist with a Spanish-language album to win the award. He opened his remarks by saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out.”
The statement prompted a standing ovation.
“We’re not savages, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” he said, adding: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love. Please, we have to be different. If we fight, we have to do it with love. We don’t hate them. We love our people, we love our families, and that’s the way to do it.”
“I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams – to all the people who have lost a loved one and, even so, have had to move forward with a lot of strength. This award is for you.”
His comments were widely viewed as a response to ICE activity in several U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, where two civilians, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were recently shot and killed by federal agents.
The speech came just days before Bad Bunny is set to headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Since the announcement, he has faced backlash from MAGA-aligned commentators, with Trump calling the selection a “terrible choice” and one of his advisers confirming that ICE would be present at the event.
Billie Eilish, who took home Song of the Year for ‘Wildflower,’ also used her moment on stage to speak out.
“I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything, but no one is illegal on stolen land,” she said, while wearing an “ICE OUT” pin. “It’s really hard to know what to say and what to do right now. I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting, speaking up, and protesting. Our voices really do matter, and the people matter.”
The final line of her remarks was censored during the broadcast. Video later shared online showed Eilish saying: “F*ck ICE.”
Eilish was joined by several other artists wearing anti-ICE pins, including Carole King, Amy Allen, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens.
Kehlani, who won two R&B awards, said: “An artist’s job is to reflect the times. People all over the world can see even just when we open our mouths one time, so I think we have an opportunity to use it wisely.”
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver also made a symbolic statement by wearing a whistle to honor legal observers who monitor ICE activity. He explained: “I think there’s a reason that music exists and it’s to heal and to bring people together.” He added: “But the real work are those observers on the on the ground in Minneapolis. We just want to want to shout them out.”
SZA, after winning Record of the Year for ‘luther’ alongside Kendrick Lamar, offered a message of reassurance.
“I just am a small part of this record, but what I really wanted to say is, please don’t fall into despair. I know that right now is a scary time. I know the algorithms tell us that it’s so scary and all is lost.”
She continued: “There’s been world wars, there’s been plagues, and we have to go on. We can go on. We need each other. We need to trust each other and trust ourselves. Trust your heart. We’re not governed by the government. We’re governed by God. And I thank you so much. So God bless.”
Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean also addressed immigration directly, pointing to her family history. The British singer, whose parents are Jamaican and Guyanese, said: “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here … I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Her remarks echoed those of Shaboozey, who won his first Grammy for country duo performance for ‘Amen’ featuring Jelly Roll. He thanked his mother, who immigrated from Nigeria, and said: “Immigrants built this country, so this is for them, for all children of immigrants.”
The repeated anti-Trump and anti-ICE messages came amid nationwide protests following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as mounting criticism from artists across genres.
Bruce Springsteen is among those voices, recently releasing a protest song titled ‘Streets of Minneapolis,’ which he dedicated to the city and to the memory of Good and Pretti.
