Kesha Blasts White House War Post
Kesha publicly criticized the Trump administration for using her hit "Blow" without permission in a social media post depicting a fighter jet firing a missile. She called the unauthorized use "disgusting" and joined other artists objecting to government messaging with their songs. The controversy comes as tensions escalate with Iran following recent U.S. military strikes.
Kesha joins a long list of musicians who have objected to Donald Trump's use of their songs, including R.E.M., Rihanna, Neil Young, and the estates of Prince and Tom Petty. Many artists, including The Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen, have repeatedly demanded their music not be used at his campaign events. The legality of using songs at political events is complex; campaigns often rely on "blanket licenses" from performing rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI that cover public performances at specific venues. However, these organizations now offer some artists the ability to exclude their songs from political licenses, which can open the door to copyright infringement claims if a campaign uses the music without direct permission. Kesha's 2010 hit "Blow" is an electro-pop party anthem with lyrics about having a wild time at a club and taking over the dance floor. In an interview, Kesha said the line "We're taking over" was a reference to her and her fans as "misfits of society" starting a revolution, a stark contrast to the military imagery in the White House post. The post appeared amid a widening conflict with Iran, following joint U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, 2026, targeting the country's nuclear program and leadership. The U.S. military reported hitting nearly 2,000 targets in the first 100 hours of the operation, while Iran has launched hundreds of retaliatory missiles. This isn't the first time the administration has faced backlash for its social media music choices. In recent months, artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and SZA have all publicly condemned the use of their songs in posts by government agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
