Bad Bunny turns heat up on ICE with Grammys message to the Trump administration
Speaking as he picked up an award the 2026 Grammy Awards on Sunday, Bad Bunny took aim at the ongoing immigration crackdown in the U.S.
At Sunday’s Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny delivered one of the night’s most forceful speeches, as he called out U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals”
Speaking as he picked up the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album, for his record Debí Tirar Más Fotos, the rapper and singer told audience members at Crypto.com Arena: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say: ‘ICE out.’
“We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens - we’re human, and we’re Americans."
Bad Bunny’s comments came amid a major immigration crackdown in the U.S. since Donald Trump returned as president, with federal agents carrying out regular deportation roundups across the country.
There have been widespread demonstrations against the raids, with tensions further inflamed last month by the fatal shooting of two people - Renee Good and Alex Pretti - by immigration officials on the streets of Minneapolis.
The killings were a major factor in the current partial shutdown of the U.S. government, which began on Saturday.
The federal stoppage has arisen after Democratic senators pushed back on approving a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing a need to “rein in the abuses of ICE”.
“Only thing more powerful than hate is love”
Bad Bunny urged opponents of the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant stance to fight back “with love”. “I know it’s tough not to hate these days, and I was thinking sometimes we get contaminados [poisoned by it]," he said.
“The hate gets more powerful with more hate. The only thing that is more powerful than hate is love.
“So please, we need 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 family, and that’s the way to do it - with love. Don’t forget that, please. Thank you.” In response, the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation.
Trump rails at “terrible” Bad Bunny choice
A regular Trump critic, Bad Bunny was speaking a week before he headlines the halftime show at the Super Bowl, the NFL’s championship game, on Feb. 8. The president has publicly hit out at the NFL’s decision to select the Puerto Rican, calling it a “terrible” choice.
Speaking last month, Trump took aim at Bad Bunny and fellow Super Bowl performers Green Day, a band that has also been critical of the 79-year-old. “I’m anti‑them,” Trump told the New York Post, claiming the artists “sow hatred”.
The president, who did attend the Super Bowl in 2025, added that he doesn’t plan to be at this year’s event.
During Bad Bunny’s ongoing world concert tour, which is due to run until July 2026, the 31-year-old has opted not to schedule any U.S. dates, citing concerns over potential ICE raids at his shows.
“ICE OUT” badges at the Grammys
Bad Bunny wasn’t alone in taking a stand against the Trump administration’s immigration policies at this weekend’s Grammys. During her acceptance speech after winning Song of the Year for “Wildflower”, the singer-songwriter Billie Eilish said: “Fuck ICE.”
Several artists - including Eilish, Justin and Hailey Bieber, FINNEAS, Kehlani, and Amy Allen - also wore “ICE OUT” pins at Crypto.com Arena.
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