Several prominent recording artists have publicly criticised the White House for its unauthorised use of their music in politically charged social media posts. Among those expressing outrage are Sabrina Carpenter, Kenny Loggins, and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, highlighting ongoing tensions between artists’ rights and political messaging.
In October, veteran musician Kenny Loggins spoke out after his iconic track Danger Zone was featured in a controversial video depicting former President Donald Trump in a graphic scene involving “No Kings” protesters. In a formal statement, Loggins emphasised that the use of his music was entirely unauthorised, saying, “This is an unauthorized use of my performance. Nobody asked for my permission, which I would have denied. I request that my recording be removed immediately.” His comments drew widespread attention, reinforcing the principle that artists maintain control over how their work is deployed.
The issue continued in November when Olivia Rodrigo condemned the White House for using her song All-American Bitch in a video promoting self-deportation among undocumented immigrants. Reacting on social media, Rodrigo wrote, “Do not ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.” The post quickly went viral, prompting the White House to remove the clip.
Sabrina Carpenter also raised concerns about the unauthorised use of her song Juno in a separate video connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), joining a growing list of artists defending their intellectual property and ethical boundaries.
These incidents underscore the challenges artists face in controlling the context in which their work is shared, particularly in politically sensitive situations. Music industry observers note that unauthorised usage can have legal repercussions as well as reputational consequences for both the artist and the entity using the music.
The full list of reported incidents is summarised below:
| Artist | Song | Incident |
|---|---|---|
| Kenny Loggins | Danger Zone | Unauthorized use in Trump-related video |
| Olivia Rodrigo | All-American Bitch | Used in self-deportation promotion |
| Sabrina Carpenter | Juno | Unauthorized use in ICE video |
These public statements demonstrate that artists are increasingly vigilant about how their music is associated with political messages. As social media continues to blur the lines between creative work and political expression, disputes over unauthorised usage are likely to remain a contentious and highly visible issue.