Noah Kahan Slams Trump Administration for Misusing His Song

Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan has taken to social media to express his discontent with the Trump administration for using his song ‘American Cars’ in a White House social media post. The incident occurred after Donald Trump visited General Motors this week, and the White House shared a post featuring Kahan’s song on their Instagram account.

Kahan was quick to respond, stating that he would never approve of his music being used in support of the Trump administration. His reply on Instagram read: ‘Would never approve of my music being used in support of you or this administration.’

The songwriter wasn’t the only one to react to the post. His collaborator, Noah Levine, also chimed in, saying, ‘You fat f*** this song isn’t for you.’ Levine co-wrote ‘American Cars’ with Kahan.

This incident is not an isolated case. Other artists have also faced similar issues with the Trump administration misusing their music on social media. Katy Perry took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her outrage after her song ‘Firework’ was used on the White House TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes.

Perry stated that she did not approve the use of her song and that it was a complete violation of everything her song stands for. She wrote: ‘I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it. I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments. To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for.’

This incident highlights the ongoing issue of artists not being asked for permission before their music is used in public spaces, including by the government. Many artists have expressed their discontent with this practice, emphasizing the importance of respecting their creative work and intellectual property.

As the debate around music ownership and public use continues, it remains to be seen how the Trump administration will address these concerns and ensure that artists’ rights are respected in the future.

The White House has yet to comment on the incident, but it is clear that this is a sensitive issue that requires attention and resolution. As the use of music in public spaces becomes increasingly prevalent, it is essential to establish clear guidelines and protocols for artists and the government to follow.

In related news, the Instagram post has since been removed from the platform, but the song continues to play on the White House’s TikTok account. This raises questions about the accountability of social media platforms in ensuring that artists’ rights are respected and that their music is not misused.

As the situation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the Trump administration responds to the growing concerns of artists and the public. Will they take steps to address the issue and establish clear guidelines for the use of music in public spaces, or will they continue to ignore the concerns of artists and the public? Only time will tell.