Recording artist Olivia Rodrigo has publicly denounced the Trump Administration for the alleged unauthorized use of her song All-American B**** in an Instagram video disseminated through official government channels, including the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The video in question reportedly featured footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents pursuing and detaining individuals suspected of residing in the United States unlawfully, accompanied by text reading: “If ICE finds you.” The footage then transitions to scenes depicting individuals voluntarily departing the country, captioned: “If you self-deport.”
During the latter portion of the video, Ms. Rodrigo’s song plays, specifically the lyrics: “All the time, I’m grateful all the time, I’m sexy and I’m kind, I’m pretty when I cry.” The accompanying caption reads: “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.”
Upon publication of the video, Ms. Rodrigo, aged 22, issued a comment directly under the post stating: “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.” In response, the DHS released a statement asserting: “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.” (Source: TMZ).
Subsequent reports indicate that Ms. Rodrigo’s comment was later removed from the original post, though it remains unclear whether such removal was effected by government administrators or another party.
This is not the first instance of Ms. Rodrigo objecting to the use of her work in political content. In November of the preceding year, a video posted to the Team Trump TikTok account used her song Deja Vu without authorization. Following a public outcry, the sound was later removed by TikTok.
Ms. Rodrigo has previously criticized the Trump Administration’s immigration policies. In June, she posted an Instagram Story expressing her opposition to ICE raids in Los Angeles, writing: “I’ve lived in LA my whole life and I’m deeply upset about these violent deportations of my neighbors under the current administration. LA simply wouldn’t exist without immigrants. Treating hardworking community members with such little respect, empathy, and due process is awful. I stand with the beautiful, diverse community of Los Angeles and with immigrants all across America.”
Conversely, Ms. Rodrigo has been publicly supportive of Democratic administrations. In 2021, she visited the White House at the invitation of President Joe Biden to assist in promoting the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination initiative. She also appeared in a video with Dr. Anthony Fauci encouraging vaccination among young Americans.
In 2024, she further endorsed then–Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, sharing footage of the candidate discussing reproductive rights and captioning her post with four raised-hand emojis, signaling support.#newsafro_
