Pop singer Olivia Rodrigo responded to a video posted on the official Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and White House Instagram that featured one of her songs, “All-American Bitch.” The video was posted to encourage undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the U.S.
“Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,” Rodrigo commented under the post.
The video contains Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detaining people with video text reading, “IF ICE FINDS YOU.” The video transitions to “scenes of immigrants seemingly choosing to self-deport,” said The Guardian.
The video concludes with “…instructions on how illegal immigrants could access the Customs and Border Patrol website and find government assistance in self-deporting. A graphic showed that illegal immigrants could ‘receive a $1,000 exit bonus,’” according to Fox News.
The post’s caption said, “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences,” according to Fox News.
In a statement from The Guardian, a DHS spokesperson responded to Rodrigo’s comment, saying, “America is grateful all the time for our federal law enforcement officers who keep us safe. We suggest Ms. Rodrigo thank them for their service, not belittle their sacrifice.”
“Grateful all the time,” as the DHS spokesperson said, is a line from Rodrigo’s song that was used in the video; it is unclear if that was intentional or not. The video is still up on the White House and DHS Instagram account but the audio has been removed. Rodrigo’s comment has since been deleted or removed; it is unknown who removed the comment, whether it was the DHS account or Rodrigo’s team.
Rodrigo makes it clear where she falls with the Trump Administration after an Instagram story she posted in June regarding ICE deportations in her state of Los Angeles.
“I’ve lived in LA my whole life, and I’m deeply upset about these violent deportations of my neighbors under the current administration. L.A. simply wouldn’t exist without immigrants. Treating hardworking community members with such little respect, empathy, and due process is awful,” she said.
Many fans responded to Rodrigo’s reply to the DHS by copying her message into comments. Some tried to suggest that she should sue the Trump Administration for using her music.
Throughout history, musicians have always pushed back against politicians using their songs without permission. In 1984, Bruce Springsteen’s classic hit “Born in the U.S.A” caught the eye of many politicians, especially Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and Pat Buchanan. Springsteen publicly criticized Reagan, questioning whether he had really listened to his music. Both Dole and Buchanan then tried to use this hit song, but were shut down by Springsteen.
Other artists have taken direct action against politicians as well, including the Swedish pop group ABBA. In 2008, John McCain referred to one of the band’s top hits, “Dancing Queen,” as one of his favorite songs and would play it in campaign events. ABBA responded by sending a cease-and-desist letter to his campaign, demanding that he stop using the song.
In January 2015, punk band Dropkick Murphys responded bluntly on X, formerly known as Twitter, to Scott Walker for using their song “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” The tweet said, “@ScottWalker @GovWalker please stop using our music in any way… we literally hate you!!! Love, Dropkick Murphys,” according to a Rolling Stone article titled, “Stop Using My Song: 35 Artists Who Fought Politicians over Their Music.”
