Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sharply criticized country music artist Zach Bryan for his newly released song “Bad News,” which takes aim at federal immigration enforcement operations, as reported by The New York Post.

The dispute unfolded after Bryan posted a short demo of the track on Oct. 3, sparking backlash from law enforcement supporters and praise from critics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

To all you activist entertainers. Know your audience, and keep your radical political commentary to yourself. https://t.co/WL4IWMihcI

— Michael Michelin (@MAMichelin59) October 8, 2025

Speaking to conservative host Benny Johnson on Tuesday, Noem said she was “disappointed and disheartened” after hearing the song. “I hope he understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country,” she said.

“To every single individual that has 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.”

Bryan, 29, shared a clip of the song on social media with the caption “the fading of the red white and blue.”

The lyrics depict a struggling protagonist living amid social decay and reference an ICE raid:

“I heard the cops came / Cocky motherf–kers, ain’t they? / And ICE is gonna come bust down your door.”

The verse continues, “The middle fingers rising, and it won’t stop showing / Got some bad news / The fading of the red, white and blue.”

Noem addressed the controversy during a press briefing in Portland following the arrest of several illegal aliens, including an accused child rapist. She said she was “glad” she had never been a listener of Bryan’s music.

“Zach, I didn’t listen to your music. I’m happy about that today,” Noem said. “That makes me very happy that I never gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle, if you truly believe what that song stands for.”

The Homeland Security Secretary praised artists such as Jason Aldean, John Rich, Jon Pardi, and Kid Rock for what she described as standing for freedom. “Those guys know what it means to stand up to freedom,” she said. “Glad I didn’t waste any money on Zach.”

Noem also accused Bryan of hypocrisy for releasing an anti-law-enforcement song while relying on police protection during his concerts.

“That’s what’s so special about law enforcement, is that they don’t pick and choose who they defend when they do their jobs,” she said.

“They will even defend and protect people that don’t respect them or stand up for them.”

BREAKING: Secretary Kristi Noem flames country singer Zach Bryan.

I just asked Noem about the new Zach Bryan song attacking ICE. Noem went scorched-earth calling the woke singer “completely disrespectful” to the law enforcement that protect him.

Secretary Noem: “I hope Zach… pic.twitter.com/MPXuVshPnM

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 7, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security joined the dispute by posting a video montage on X featuring Bryan’s hit “Revival” as background music, set against clips of ICE agents conducting raids nationwide.

We’re having an All Night Revival pic.twitter.com/o7q8DExPra

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 7, 2025

Bryan responded later on Instagram, insisting the song was being misinterpreted. “When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle,” he said.

“Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.”

He added that his intention was to express love for his country, not contempt. “I served this country. I love this country and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space,” Bryan wrote.

“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 emphasized that he does not align with either political extreme. “To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in, just know I’m trying to do my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes,” he said.

“I am SO proud to have served in a country where we can all speak freely and converse amongst each other without getting doxxed or accosted on the internet or worse.”