Music's biggest night – the Grammy Awards – took place last night, and while it was a moment to celebrate artists, politics loomed large over the ceremony.
Many winners spoke out against Donald Trump, criticising the actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and sending messages of unity.
The tone was set by host Trevor Noah, who quipped in his opening monologue that Nicki Minaj had skipped the Grammy ceremony this year because she was still at the White House discussing “important issues” with Donald Trump – namely, whose posterior was bigger.
Noah broke into a Trump impression: “Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass, everybody’s saying it Nicki.”
Nicki Minaj recently called herself Donald Trump’s “number one fan” - which prompted some of her fans to bin her records.
Noah also joked that the Grammy Awards were coming to viewers “completely live” because “if we edited any of the show, the president would sue CBS for $16 billion” - a reference Trump’s lawsuit against 60 Minutes over an edited interview with Kamala Harris.
Noah even riffed on Trump’s supposed interest in acquiring Greenland: “Because Epstein’s island is gone, he needs a new island to hang out with Bill Clinton.”
After the show, Trump reacted in a Truth Social post.
“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 biggest political statement of the evening came from Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, who won the coveted Album of the Year for his album 'DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS'. He openly criticised ICE while accepting his award.
Bad Bunny – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – became the first artist with a Spanish-language record to recieve the honour. He began his speech by saying, “Before I say thanks to God, I’m gonna say: ICE out.”
This prompted the audience to stand up and applaud.
“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 a direct rebuke to the ongoing ICE presence in many American cities, particularly in Minneapolis, where two US civilians, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were both shot and killed by ICE agents.
Bad Bunny’s words also come a week before he headlines the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The artist has come under attack from the MAGA crowd since he was announced as the headliner, with Trump recently calling the decision a “terrible choice” and one of his advisors confirming that ICE would be present at the “shameful” concert.
Billie Eilish, who won Song of the Year for her track ‘Wildflower’, also used her platform to speak out.
“I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything, but no one is illegal on stolen land,” she said, 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 end of her speech was bleeped by television censors. According to video footage posted online, Eilish said: “F*ck ICE.”
Eilish was not the only artist wearing anti-ICE pins, with many including Carole King, Amy Allen, Margo Price, Kehlani and Rhiannon Giddens showing their opposition to ICE.
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."
As for Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, he wore a whistle to honour legal observers who monitor ICE activities. 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.”
Elsewhere, SZA also used her speech to send a message of unity.
After winning Record of the Year for 'luther', she took to the stage alongside Kendrick Lamar (who now holds 27 Grammys, becoming the most awarded rapper in Grammy history) and said: “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.”
Another powerful speech came from Best New Artist winner Olivia Dean, who highlighted her immigrant background and the perils of the Trump administration’s stance towards immigrants. The British singer’s parents are Jamaican and Guyanese.
“I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here … I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.”
Her comments were echoed by Shaboozey, who won his first Grammy in the country duo performance category, 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 numerous anti-Trump and anti-ICE comments at the Grammys come amid nationwide protests following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as protests of countless other artists, who have been vocal about ICE’s crimes.
Bruce Springsteen is one of them. He recently released a new song, ’Streets of Minneapolis’, which the legendary rocker dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, as well as Good and Pretti’s memory.
