Kesha slams White House for using song in TikTok without consent
Singer Kesha has publicly denounced the Trump administration for their unauthorized use of her song "Blow" on TikTok. She expressed outrage on social media, stating her music was employed to "incite violence and threaten war," which she deemed "disgusting and inhumane." Kesha emphasized that she "absolutely does NOT approve of my music being used to promote violence of any kind," advocating for love over hate. She also drew a connection to mentions of Donald Trump in the Jeffrey Epstein files, highlighting this as a more significant issue. The White House TikTok account had featured a compilation of military jets set to Kesha's 2010 hit with the caption "Lethality."
White House officials responded dismissively. Communications Director Steven Cheung suggested such criticism only amplifies the administration's reach and engagement on social media. Another staffer, Kaelan Dorr, indicated that such memes and content would persist, linking it to their perceived success. When approached by USA TODAY, the White House pointed to these statements. Kesha later retorted on X, labeling the White House "perverts" and demanding they cease using her music.
This incident places Kesha among a growing number of artists who have objected to the Trump administration's music usage. Previously, Sabrina Carpenter condemned the White House for using her song "Juno" in a video depicting ICE detentions, calling the post "evil and disgusting." Similarly, Olivia Rodrigo criticized the Department of Homeland Security for using "all-american bitch" in a deportation promotion, denouncing it as "racist, hateful propaganda." Other artists and even Pokémon have also voiced their disapproval of the administration's practice.
