SZA has publicly criticized the White House after her music was used in a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement video shared on its official X account. The clip, soundtracked by a song she performed on Saturday Night Live, appeared without permission—continuing a pattern of federal agencies under the Trump administration using mainstream pop hits to reinforce aggressive immigration messaging.
The reaction began when her longtime manager Punch posted a statement condemning the move. “Trying to provoke artist to respond in order to help spread propaganda and political agendas is nasty business. Knock it off,” he wrote, calling out what he described as deliberate manipulation. SZA reposted the message with her own sharp rebuke, writing, “White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK… inhumanity + shock and aw tactics… Evil n Boring.”
UPDATE — The White House issued a statement to Variety: “Thank you, SZA, for drawing even more attention to the tremendous work America’s ICE officers are doing by arresting dangerous criminal illegal aliens in American communities.”
The controversy follows similar incidents involving other young pop artists. Last week, Sabrina Carpenter denounced the White House after her hit “Juno” was used in a pro-ICE video featuring arrest footage and migrant detentions. In a clear public statement, Carpenter called the edit “evil and disgusting” and demanded that her music never be used to promote what she described as an inhumane agenda.
Weeks earlier, Olivia Rodrigo issued her own condemnation after the Department of Homeland Security used “all-american b*tch” in a video encouraging “voluntary self-deportation” flights. The clip was widely criticized for mocking migrant communities and exploiting a song centered on female empowerment for political messaging.
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