In what is the latest flashpoint in an increasingly bitter clash between elements of popular culture and right-wing conservatives over the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, called Zach Bryan’s new country song “completely disrespectful,” telling Bryan that she was “very happy that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle.”
In a snippet of an untitled song posted to Instagram last week, Bryan refers to Immigration and Customs Enforcement when he sings, “ICE is going to come bust down your door.”
“The middle finger’s rising, and it won’t stop showing,” he continues. “Got some bad news. Thе fading of the red, white and blue.”
Asked on Tuesday by the right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson what she thought of Bryan’s lyrics, Noem replied that the song disrespected not only law enforcement officials but also “every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms.” The song, Noem said, “attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe.”
“Zach, I didn’t listen to your music,” she added. “I’m happy about that today.”
In an Instagram story on Tuesday evening, Bryan said his lyrics had been “misconstrued” and suggested that listeners would understand their context once he released the entire song, though he did not say when that would be.
“Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are,” Bryan wrote. “We need to find our way back.”
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The post Amid Conservative Attacks, Zach Bryan Says ICE Lyrics Were ‘Misconstrued’ appeared first on New York Times.
