Pop stars and government social media accounts rarely mix well, especially when copyright meets hardline political messaging. Swedish singer Zara Larsson didn't hold back after discovering her track "Midnight Sun" was used to soundtrack an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) video posted on the official White House TikTok account.
The clip, captioned "Never ending deportations," showed agents detaining individuals. Instead of issuing a sterile statement through a publicist, Larsson took straight to TikTok with a stitched response. She didn't just express anger. She called the clip dehumanizing and didn't mince words about the people behind it.
"I'm just really sad," Larsson said in her video response. She pointed out that the people featured in the footage are human beings trying to get by, noting a man wearing construction gear who was simply working.
The disconnect between the song's intent and its political weaponization stood out immediately. Larsson explained that "Midnight Sun" is about human connection, the universe, and nature. Pairing it with enforcement operations designed to drive people apart felt entirely contradictory to her artistic vision.
This friction highlights a wider trend of musicians pushing back against political campaigns using their catalogs without permission. Other artists like Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Katy Perry have all publicly condemned the White House or political entities for repurposing their hits for contentious policy promotion.
Government channels lean heavily into internet culture and meme formats to push policy points, but artists are increasingly drawing a hard line. When songs meant to evoke unity get turned into background tracks for state-backed removal operations, the backlash is swift. Larsson wrapped up her thoughts bluntly, calling out the creators of the post with zero hesitation.
Copyright laws and digital platforms give creators options, but public shaming remains the fastest tool in an artist's arsenal. Social media teams will likely think twice before grabbing trending audios for partisan clips, though the clash between pop culture and official state messaging is far from over.
Zara Larsson criticises White House for using her song in their video
This YouTube short provides a brief news report detailing Zara Larsson's direct response to the White House's unauthorized use of her song.
