Musicians including Katy Perry, Kesha, and Radiohead have condemned the White House and ICE for using their songs in social media clips without permission. These videos featured military operations and law enforcement arrests, prompting the artists to denounce the weaponization of their art.
"Firework" and the "Iran has been warned" TikTok
The White House's official TikTok account sparked outrage by synchronizing the "boom, boom, boom" lyrics of Katy Perry's hit "Firework" with black-and-white footage of bombing. According to the report, the post was captioned "Iran has been warned," effectively turning a song about inner strength into a soundtrack for military aggression.
Katy Perry, whose track spent four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, described the move as a "complete violation" of the song's intent. Perry stated that she wrote the anthem to provide hope and healing for those in their darkest moments, arguing that her music is intended to bring people together rather than celebrate warfare.
Kesha's "Blow" and the "Lethality" campaign
The White House has not been the only government entity utilizing unauthorized audio;ICE also used music from Kesha to promote its activities.. The report says that Kesha's song "Bye" was featured in a TikTok video highlighting ICE agents making arrests, a move the singer stated she did not approve.
This follows a previous incident where Kesha's song "Blow" was used in a TikTok video featuring fighter jets and military strike footage. That specific post was captioned "Lethality," which Kesha claimed is the opposite of what she stands for as an artist.
Radiohead's "amateurs" critique of ICE social media
The British rock band Radiohead took a more aggressive tone toward the government's digital strategy, slamming the "amateurs" managing ICE's socal media accounts. Following the use of their music in a video promoting arrests, the band's lead singer, Thom Yorke , explicitly stated that the group does not condone the use of their work to promote destruction.
In a blunt response to the unauthorized use, Radiohead told the social media operators to "Go F-k Yourselves." Thom Yorke emphasized that Radiohead's music is designed to spread love and peace, creating a stark ideological divide between the band's artistic vision and the operational goals of ICE.
The Trump administration's pattern of unauthorized music use
These incidents are part of a broader trend involving the Trump administration, as Katy Perry is among dozens of artists who have criticized the administration for using their music in political videos and at campaign rallies. This pattern reflects a recurring tension between government entities claiming "free speech" and artists asserting their intellectual property rights.
The conflict highlights a growing divide in how music is perceived in the digital age. While government social media managers may view popular songs as mere tools for engagement or "vibes," the artists view the context of that use as an extension of their personal and political brand, leading to public relations disasters when the two clash.
Which Radiohead track did ICE actually use?
Despite the intensity of the backlash, several details remain missing from the public record. The report does not specify which Radiohead song was used in the ICE video, nor does it clarify if the White House or ICE have removed the TikToks in question following the artists' protests.
Furthermore,it remains unclear if any of these artists have filed formal copyright infringement lawsuits or if their complaints are limited to public statements. While the artists have voiced their disapproval, the legal mechanism for forcing a government agency to scrub a social media post remains a complex area of law .
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