Zach Bryan reportedly faces DHS backlash over anti-ICE lyrics in new song snippet

Country star Zach Bryan faces backlash over lyrics criticizing ICE raids, igniting debate and online controversy

Country star Zach Bryan has reportedly drawn criticism from both political commentators and a Department of Homeland Security official after posting a snippet of a new song on Instagram that appears to take aim at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The unreleased track, shared Friday with the caption “The fading of the red white and blue,” includes pointed lyrics such as: “I heard the cops came, co*ky mot**rf**kers, ain’t they? / And ICE is gonna come bust down your door... / Kids are all scared and all alone.” The lyrics also reference “middle fingers rising,” contributing to the song’s tone of defiance.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Zach Bryan (@zachlanebryan)

While the full context of the song remains unclear, as it has not been officially released, Bryan’s decision to highlight this specific verse sparked immediate backlash, particularly from right-wing commentators. Among the critics was Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, who told TMZ that Bryan should “stick to ‘Pink Skies,’” referring to his popular 2024 single about hometown pride and childhood nostalgia.

The controversy comes amid ongoing scrutiny of ICE's enforcement tactics and detention conditions. McLaughlin defended the agency, telling TMZ, “We have higher ICE detention facility standards than most prisons holding U.S. citizens.”

Despite the criticism, Bryan — a U.S. Navy veteran — remains one of the most commercially successful country artists today. According to the RIAA, he has sold the equivalent of 30 million units in the U.S., amassed over 16 billion Spotify streams, and recently drew a record-setting crowd of 112,000 fans at Michigan Stadium.

Though Bryan has previously stated he supports neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden, his music continues to provoke conversation, blending personal narrative with social commentary that resonates — and divides — audiences across the political spectrum.