Green Day's 'American Idiot' climbs chart ahead of President Trump’s UK visit
Green Day’s politically charged anthem ‘American Idiot’ is climbing the singles chart ahead of President Trump’s visit to the UK on Thursday (12th July).
Fans of Billie Joe and co. ignited their ‘Get American Idiot to No.1 for Trump’s State Visit’ campaign on Facebook back in April as soon as Trump’s visit was confirmed.
The page initially was set up in 2017 soon after Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Although Trump’s visit isn’t an official state one, he will be meeting with The Queen and the Prime Minister.
According to Official Charts Company figures, ‘American Idiot’ is currently at number 18 on the midweek chart and is around 4,000 downloads short of a Top 10 place at this stage.
‘American Idiot’ entered the UK singles chart at No.3 back in September 2004 and sold over 400,000 copies.
Green Day, of course, have spoken out against Donald Trump numerous times over the past few years and famously instigated a 'No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!' chant at the American Music Awards in November 2016.
Speaking to Kerrang! Radio the day after Trump was elected, Billie Joe Armstrong said: “A lot of people are really freaked out and angry and confused. The vote was obviously kind of a protest vote for the people that actually voted him into office too because the establishment politics are so corrupt right now.
“But it’s hard because they voted in a dictator – someone that’s literally the first true fascist that America’s ever voted into office.”
Reflecting upon Trump’s proposed wall between the US and Mexico, Billie Joe added: “It’s basically like an introduction into some form of grotesque ethnic cleansing. The Republican Party is now officially a white nationalist party – no doubt about it, you can’t whitewash that. It’s very scary times.”
Last November’s ‘Back In The USA’ video features a Donald Trump-esque President depicted as a zombie-like horror figure.
Donald Trump himself praised Green Day’s American Idiot musical when he saw it in 2010, writing on Twitter: “Melania and I saw American Idiot on Broadway last night and it was great. An amazing theatrical experience!”
> Melania and I saw American Idiot on Broadway last night and it was great. An amazing theatrical experience! > > — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2010