In 2025, the Trump administration went to extreme lengths to create the most polarizing social media content promoting ICE raids, recruitment, and the deportation of illegal immigrants.
The social media interns at the White House or the Department of Homeland Security have included music and pop culture references without the artists’ permission, and for that, they received immediate backlash for unauthorized use of the content.
Here are the artists who clapped back at the Trump administration for using this content in 2025:
1.
On July 30, the White House shared a video promoting ICE and the deportation of alleged illegal migrants with Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” in the background.
The video’s caption referenced the British airline commercial, which became a viral sound on social media: “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beat it!”
In response, Jess shared an Instagram story condemning the use of her 2015 song. “This post honestly makes me sick,” she said. “My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate.”
2.
On Dec. 3, the Department of Homeland Security shared a now-removed ICE recruitment video that used Joey Valence & Brae’s 2022 song “Punk Tactics.”
In response to the video, Joey immediately spoke out against its unauthorized usage in a Dec. 3 X post. “I’m disgusted to see our music was used without our knowledge or consent to promote I.C.E,” he said.
He continued, “To be clear this video does NOT represent my OR JVB’s thoughts or beliefs in any form and we are actively working to have it taken down.”
3.
Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins asked President Trump to remove the audio from his performance of the 1986 hit “Danger Zone.” To reply to the No Kings protests, the official White House X account shared an AI-generated video of Trump in a fighter jet releasing brown sludge on protesters.
Kenny said in a statement obtained by NPR, “This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’ Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately.”
“I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us. Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together.”
“We’re all Americans, and we’re all patriotic,” he continued. “There is no ‘us and them’ – that’s not who we are, nor is it what we should be. It’s all of us. We’re in this together, and it is my hope that we can embrace music as a way of celebrating and uniting each and every one of us.”
4.
MGMT posted on Instagram in response to their 2017 song “Little Dark Age” being used in a Homeland Security video for ICE recruitment on Oct. 23. The video depicted federal agents arresting protestors with the caption, “End of the Dark Age, beginning of the Golden Age.”
On Oct. 24, the band shared a statement on their Instagram, “MGMT is aware of ‘Little Dark Age’ being featured in a propaganda video by the Department of Homeland Security and has issued a takedown request for the unauthorized use of their music.”
5.
On Nov. 4, the White House and Department of Homeland Security shared a video of ICE officers detaining and deporting people featuring Olivia Rodrigo’s 2023 song “All American Bitch,” alongside the caption “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.”
Olivia responded in a now-deleted comment on the post, calling out the video as propaganda. “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
6.
On Dec. 2, the White House posted a video with Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 song “Juno” depicting different shots of ICE agents arresting alleged illegal immigrants.
Sabrina replied to the now-deleted video with an X post, saying, “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
The White House spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, responded by using another reference to Sabrina’s 2025 single “Manchild.” “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country,” she said. “Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
7.
On March 17, the White House posted a video of ICE promoting the deportation of people with the band Semisonic’s 1998 song “Closing Time.”
The rock band slammed the use of their song in a Facebook post, writing, “We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song ‘Closing Time’ in any way. And no, they didn’t ask. The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely.”
8.
On Dec. 8, the White House’s official account shared a holiday-themed ICE video that included a remixed version of SZA and Keke Palmer’s “Big Boys” from a 2022 SNL sketch.
The video used the lyrics about cuffing season to reference arresting and detaining immigrants with the caption, “WE HEARD IT’S CUFFING SZN. Bad News for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America.” Both SZA and her former manager spoke out against the usage of the song.
On Dec. 9, Terrence “Punch” Henderson posted to his X account, “Trying to provoke artist to respond in order to help spread propaganda and political agendas is nasty business. Knock it off.”
Sza spoke out against the White House with a quoted repost of Punch’s X tweet. “rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK,” she wrote,” adding it’s “inhumanity +shock and aw tactics ..Evil n Boring ”
9.
Finally, on Dec. 11, the US Department of Justice posted a fake Franklin the Turtle book cover that read, “Franklin Becomes A Deportation Judge,” with a link to join the department’s “Action Center” to report crimes, locate sex offenders, etc.
On Nov. 30, Pete Hegseth shared another shocking faux cover titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists,” in which he is firing a bazooka at boats from a chopper.
After Hegseth’s post, Kids Can Press shared a Dec. 1 Instagram denouncing the use of their famous book character. “Franklin the Turtle is a beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” they wrote. “We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
What do you think about the Department of Homeland Security, White House, and ICE using artists’ content without their permission? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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