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Ariana Grande, Celine Dion, Katy Perry and more: Musicians who slammed the White House over unauthorised use of their songs
Over the past couple of years, a lot of musicians have called out the White House publicly for unauthorized use of their songs. From Ariana Grande and Celine Dion to Foo Fighters, ABBA, and more. Many stars have slammed the Trump administration over using their songs in videos and clip compilations of officers, military strikes, as well as AI-generated videos. Here is a list of many of the celebrities who have slammed the Trump administration for using their songs to promote their content.
Kesha
Kesha issued a long statement on her X account following the use of her song in one of the promotional videos posted on the White House account. They had posted a video of a fighter aircraft along with her song ‘Blow’ playing in the background. Condemning the unauthorized use of her song, Kesha posted, “Stop using my music, perverts.” She further added, “Trying to make light of war is disgusting and inhumane. I absolutely do NOT approve of my music being used to promote violence of any kind. Love always trumps hate. Please love yourself and each other in times like this. This show of blatant disregard for human life and quite frankly this attack on all of our nervous systems is the opposite of what I stand for.”
Katy Perry
Katy Perry is the latest addition to the list of celebrities who have called out the Trump Administration for using their songs for promotional content without permission. Recently, a video of missile strikes was shared on the White House account, along with her song ‘Firework’ playing in the back. Calling this out, she posted, “I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments. To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for. My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare.”
Ariana Grande
Last month itself, the singer’s song ‘Bye’ was used alongside a clip showing ICE officers arresting immigrants. Condemning the use of her song, the 33 year old had posted a comment under the video stating, “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. F*** ice.” Following her comments and public backlash, many people pointed out that while the video was not removed from the platform, Grande’s song had been muted and removed.
Celine Dion
One of Dion’s most famous songs of all time, ‘My Heart Will Go On’ was once used during a rally in 2024 for the Trump Administration. Following online backlash, with many fans wondering whether the singer’s label had actually given permission for the song’s usage or not, they ahd to publicly clarify that no permission was given to the Trump Administration. In an Instagram post she clarified, “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana. In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.…And really, THAT song?”
Kenny Loggins
Last year, the US president had shared an AI clip with Loggins’ song, ‘Danger Zone’ playing in the background. Taking to his X account, the singer had posted, “I request that my recording on this video be 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.”
Radiohead
Earlier this year, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, had used one of their songs in a video clip. The post contained their 1997 song ‘Let Down’ along with the faces of people that the post described as ‘victims’ of “criminal illegal alien violence.” Condemning the use of their song, Radiohead stated to NBC News and stated, “We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down. It ain’t funny; this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight.” A spokesperson for the band also later confirmed that no prior permission was taken from them to use the song.
Sabrina Carpenter
Last year in December, the Trump Administration had taken to their social media accounts to post a clip compilation of ICE officers arresting people, along with Carpenter’s song ‘Juno’ playing in the background. The singer had been quick to call them out, and in the comment section had posted that “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” Since then, the video has been removed from their account completely.
Guns N’ Roses
In 2018, when the Trump Administration started using their song ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ for many of their political campaigning events, rock band Guns N’ Roses were quick to call out the unauthorized usage. Frontman Axl Rose took to his X account and posted a lengthy statement saying, “GNR, like a lot of artists opposed to the unauthorized use of their music at political events, has formally requested our music not be used at Trump rallies or Trump-associated events. Unfortunately, the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues’ blanket performance licenses which were not intended for such craven political purposes, without the songwriters’ consent. Can u say ‘s***bags?!’”
