Kristi Noem blasts country singer Zach Bryan for song attacking ICE

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticized country singer Zach Bryan following the release of a snippet from his upcoming song, “Bad News,” which appeared to criticize ICE operations. Noem appeared on The Benny Johnson show, where she called the lyrics “disrespectful.” 

"I hope he understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country," Noem said.

The snippet, shared by Bryan on Instagram last week, included lines such as: "My friends are all degenerates, but they’re all I got, the generational story of dropping the plot. I heard the cops came, Cocky motherf*ckers, ain’t they?”  

"And ICE is gonna come bust down your door, try to build a house no one builds no more, but I got a telephone, Kids are all scared and all alone."

Another line referenced the nation’s flag, saying, "The bar stopped bumping, the rock stopped rolling, the middle finger’s rising, and it won’t stop showing. Got some bad news, the fading of the red, white, and blue."

Noem said she was "extremely disappointed and disheartened" by the lyrics. 

"To every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms, he just compromised it all by putting out a product such as that, that attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe,” she said. "So, Zach, I didn’t listen to your music. I’m happy about that today. Today that makes me very happy, that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle if you truly believe what that song stands for."

Bryan immediately received backlash from his conservative audience. He responded to these criticisms on social media, saying it reflects a divided America.

"I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snippet. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved down our throats through social media,” he wrote.

He added that the full song, when released, will provide additional context addressing “both sides of the aisle.” 

"I served this country, I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space. I wasn’t speaking as a politician or some greater-than-thou a--hole, just a 29-year-old man who is just as confused as everyone else," Bryan added.