‘Don’t Trash the Country!’ Lee Greenwood Rips Team USA
EDITOR’S NOTE: Social media is once again throttling conservative content. Click here to sign up for my free daily news briefing to get exclusive conservative news and commentary delivered to your inbox.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood sounded off on Olympic athletes he says are disrespecting America — blasting what he described as anti-American behavior while wearing the nation’s colors during a Presidents Day interview on The Todd Starnes Radio Show. Click here to listen to the full interview.
Greenwood, the voice behind the patriotic anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.,” did not hold back when asked about athletes and public figures criticizing the country while representing it on the world stage.
“You don’t understand — this country stands together. You can’t divide it like that,” Greenwood said. “Are you kidding me? Take off that jacket, go have a press conference and do it on your own in your own time, but don’t trash the country when you’re wearing the colors.”
The fiery comments came during a wide-ranging conversation with host Todd Starnes that focused heavily on faith, patriotism, and Greenwood’s widely discussed “God Bless the USA Bible,” which both men described as a powerful reminder of America’s Christian foundations.
A Bible Rooted in America’s Founding
Starnes opened the conversation by sharing a personal story about how the Bible captured his attention during a recent church service.
“So I’m heading to church. I was running late, and I was putting a few notes on my new book project, and I’ve been using the God Bless the USA Bible,” Starnes said. “Normally, I take a much smaller Bible to church on Sundays and I couldn’t find it. So I grabbed the God Bless the USA Bible, and we’re looking at a passage, I think it was in Galatians, and I never actually heard the pastor preach because I was reading all the cool information in the Bible. And I thought, uh-oh, I’m going to blame Lee Greenwood on this if the preacher asks me a question.”
Greenwood explained that the Bible includes key historical documents from America’s founding, which he said resonates deeply with churchgoers.
“I’ve taken two versions of that Bible to our church, Brentwood Baptist in Brentwood, Tennessee, and I never walk out with it,” Greenwood said. “I have to give it to somebody. They’re so interested to know that the Founding Father documents are inside the Bible.”
The country music legend said the project serves as a reminder of the nation’s spiritual heritage — particularly as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.
“It kind of reminds us, in this 250-year anniversary of America, that we started with faith, and now we have faith, family, and freedom,” he said. “And those documents are a reminder of where we came from.”
Starnes agreed, noting the longstanding role faith has played in American life, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s decision to provide soldiers with pocket Bibles during World War II.
“It’s just a reminder of what is important and the Christian foundations and underpinning of this great nation of ours,” Starnes said.
Teaching Patriotism to the Next Generation
A major focus of the discussion centered on what both men described as a growing lack of historical and civic understanding among younger Americans. Starnes raised concerns about students protesting political issues without fully understanding the nation’s founding principles.
“We’re raising a generation that really is illiterate when it comes to American history, civics,” Starnes said. “And I wonder if the God Bless the USA Bible can be a great resource for moms and dads to make sure their kids do know about America.”
Greenwood said the Bible — along with his music — can help instill patriotism and faith in young people.
“Absolutely, Todd,” he said. “I get so many videos of small children, anywhere from five to eight years old, and they sing my entire song. Sometimes they’re prompted by their parents because they can’t remember all the lyrics… and they run to the end of the song and sing at the top of their lungs. That’s where patriotism starts.”
He added that the goal goes far beyond music.
“It’s not just about the music, it’s about understanding what the lyrics mean,” Greenwood said. “And I’m just so very proud that I’ve given that to America to be used as a tool to build patriotism among our young children.”
Faith, Unity, and National Identity
Greenwood also praised schools that continue to embrace patriotic traditions while criticizing those that have moved away from them.
“There are schools that do that and that makes me proud,” he said. “I mean, there’s some woke teachers or agenda in communities… they said we just can’t do that, they don’t play the national anthem either though.”
The singer said such decisions undermine national unity and ignore the values that have historically bound Americans together.
“You don’t understand this country stands together,” Greenwood said. “You can’t divide it like that.”
A Song That Belongs to America
The interview also explored the enduring impact of Greenwood’s signature song, which has become a fixture at patriotic events and military ceremonies across the country. The singer said performing for wounded service members remains one of the most emotional experiences of his career.
“It’s usually what gets me to tear up is when I see a soldier who’s wounded and he’s standing in front of me and he is singing,” Greenwood said. “It wells up in me in my heart and emotions.”
Reflecting on the song’s lasting legacy, Greenwood said it ultimately belongs to the American people.
“It’s no longer mine,” he said. “I’m proud that I still can sing it too, by the way. I was born in 1942. That makes me 83, going to be 84 this year. As long as I can keep singing it, I will.”
Starnes praised the song’s universal appeal, calling it a rare cultural force that transcends politics.
“God Bless the USA unites the country, no matter if you’re a Republican or Democrat,” Starnes said.
As the Presidents Day interview concluded, Greenwood emphasized that faith remains at the heart of America’s identity — and said he hopes the “God Bless the USA Bible” will help preserve that legacy for generations to come.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Social media is once again throttling conservative content. Click here to sign up for my free daily news briefing to get exclusive conservative news and commentary delivered to your inbox.