Billie Eilish used her acceptance speech for the Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Award for Environmental Justice in Atlanta to criticize President Trump’s administration. The musician, who received the award for her environmental work, spoke about what she sees as worsening conditions across the country under current federal leadership.
According to Variety, Eilish expressed mixed feelings about receiving the honor given the current political situation. “It’s very strange to be celebrated for working toward environmental justice at a time where it feels less achievable than ever given the state of our country and the world right now,” Eilish said.
She pointed out several issues with the administration’s priorities. “We’re seeing our neighbors being kidnapped, peaceful protesters being assaulted and murdered, our civil rights being stripped, resources to fight the climate crisis being cut for fossil fuels and animal agriculture destroying our planet, and people’s access to food and healthcare becoming a privilege for the wealthy instead of a new basic human right for all Americans,” she said.
The singer’s strong stance reflects growing concerns about federal policies
Eilish has been particularly critical of federal immigration enforcement following the January death of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, who was killed by an ICE agent. After that incident, she posted several messages on social media against the agency. She called ICE “a federally funded and supported terrorist group under the Department of Homeland Security that has done nothing to make our streets safer.”
She also shared a memorial listing 32 people who died in ICE detention during 2025. That year was one of the agency’s deadliest years since it was created in 2003. Her criticism comes as Trump’s tariff policies target European nations with new trade warnings.
Eilish said using her platform is a personal duty. “I have this platform and I think it’s my responsibility to use it, so I feel like I’m just doing what anyone in my position should be doing,” she explained.
The artist has a history of using major events to talk about social issues. Last October at the WSJ Innovator Awards, she asked wealthy people to share their resources. Her own concert tour raised $11.5 million for charity, which was announced the same night. Meanwhile, Trump’s recent pardon of Puerto Rico’s governor has sparked controversy over the timing.
While accepting the MLK award, she said she doesn’t “feel deserving” of the recognition. She thanked the other recipients and her parents, but made clear she won’t stay quiet about what’s happening in the country. “It is very clear that protecting our planet and our communities is not a priority for this administration. And it’s really hard to celebrate that when we no longer feel safe in our own homes or in our streets,” she said.
Published: Jan 20, 2026 04:45 pm