The 68th Grammy Awards were about more than just music and artistic achievement. This year, the stage became a space for collective dissent, as artists used their visibility to spark a political conversation. From wearing “ICE out” badges to weaving pointed messages into their acceptance speeches, the protest unfolded throughout the night.
Trevor Noah, hosting the Grammys for the final time, leaned into the moment as well, taking direct jabs at President Trump and even invoking Greenland, underscoring how the ceremony had turned into a platform for protest as much as celebration.
At one point, he joked that Song of the Year “is a Grammy that every artist wants almost as much as Trump wants Greenland. Which makes sense because Epstein’s island is gone. He needs a new one to hang out with Bill Clinton.” The remark drew loud laughter inside the arena but quickly rippled beyond it.
Trump responded hours later on Truth Social, his social media platform, lashing out at both Noah and the ceremony itself. He threatened legal action and dismissed the broadcast as “the WORST, virtually unwatchable!” The president added, “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”
Besides, many artists made their stance visible from the start with the message, aimed squarely at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, broke through to a national audience about an hour into the broadcast when Bad Bunny accepted the Grammy for best música urbána album.
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The Puerto Rican superstar, who has previously been targeted by the White House and right-wing media, used his moment on stage to be explicit. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ‘ICE out,’” Bad Bunny said, drawing a roaring standing ovation. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
By then, it was clear the ceremony was shaping up to be the most overtly political Grammys in years. Throughout the night, artists repeatedly returned to the microphone not just to accept awards, but to underline the same message of resistance and collective defiance.
The message carried into the major award moments as well. Accepting the Grammy for best new artist, British singer Olivia Dean used her speech to ground the debate in personal history. She described herself as “a granddaughter of an immigrant,” before adding, “I’m a product of bravery, and I believe those people deserve to be celebrated.”
The night’s most charged moment came when Billie Eilish took the stage to accept Song of the Year for a record-setting third time. Wearing an “ICE OUT” pin, the 24-year-old used her speech to directly criticize U.S. immigration enforcement and border policies.
“No one is illegal on stolen land,” Eilish said, urging the audience to continue protesting and speaking out. She closed her remarks bluntly, adding, “And f— ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say, sorry.”
The speech quickly became a flashpoint beyond the ceremony. Just days after calling Eilish “stupid” in an earlier online exchange, Tesla CEO Elon Musk amplified criticism branding the singer a hypocrite over her views on immigration and land ownership.
The remarks soon traveled well beyond the Grammy audience. Within hours, critics began scrutinizing whether Eilish’s words aligned with her personal life, pointing to her ownership of a multi-million-dollar home in Los Angeles.
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The conversation quickly shifted away from immigration itself and toward questions of land ownership, privilege, and the limits of celebrity activism.
By Monday, several politicians had entered the fray. Utah Senator Mike Lee argued that anyone publicly invoking “stolen land” should be prepared to give up their own property to Native Americans. Minnesota state representative Walter Hudson raised questions about whether such rhetoric amounted to rejecting the legitimacy of property ownership across the United States. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis added fuel to the debate, suggesting that Eilish should consider giving up her southern California mansion if she truly believed the land was stolen. That comment drew a terse response from Elon Musk, who replied, “Exactly,” on X, publicly backing DeSantis and reinforcing accusations of hypocrisy.
The U.S. government also weighed in on the controversy. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin rejected Eilish’s criticism, drawing a sharp contrast between celebrity speeches and law enforcement work. She said that while artists used award show platforms to attack ICE, DHS officers were focused on arresting criminals, including sex offenders and child abusers.
“While Hollywood celebrities embarrassed themselves trying to drum up hatred of ICE officers from the Grammys, DHS law enforcement was hard at work arresting sex offenders, child abusers, and criminals convicted of assault in Minnesota,” McLaughlin said.