Kristi Noem Feuds With Oklahoma Country Star Over Political Song

It seems these days Kristi Noem is in one music feud after another. After some choice words to Bad Bunny about his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show, the Homeland Security Secretary is turning her attention to Oklahoma country singer Zach Bryan.

Bryan recently released a song that heavily criticized the ICE raids targeting immigrants. The song called “Bad News,” dropped on October 3. Noem said she felt “disappointed and disheartened” by the tune.

“I hope he understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country,” Noem told conservative podcaster Benny Johnson via New York Post.

• “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.”

Lyrics of the song include:

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

Kristin Noem Shares Thoughts

After the song dropped, Noem didn’t mince words about what she thought about Zach Bryan.

• “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.”
• She also pointed out the police protect Bryan 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. They will even defend and protect people that don’t respect them or stand up for them so that’s who I’ll point to when I tell my grandkids to grow up like someone.”

Zach Bryan Speaks Out

Meanwhile, Bryan also shared his own thoughts on the backlash to the song.

• “When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle,” Bryan said on Instagram late Tuesday. “Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided we all are. We need to find our way back.

• “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. To see how much s–t it stirred up makes me not only embarrassed but kind of scared. Left wing or right wing, we’re all one bird and American.
• “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,” Bryan said.
• “The last few months of my life I’ve been scrutinized by more people than I ever thought possible. I feel like I’ve tried my hardest in so many ways and it’s so hard to see where my bearings even are anymore. Been falling off a cliff while trying to grow wings at the same time.
• “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; the violence and heartbreak we’ve faced in the last few months!”