Olivia Rodrigo has publicly criticized U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for featuring her song 'All-American Bitch' in a video promoting deportations, calling it 'racist, hateful propaganda.' The video, shared by the White House and Department of Homeland Security on Instagram, depicts ICE operations and encourages self-deportation via the CBP Home app. Rodrigo's response highlights ongoing tensions between artists and the Trump administration over unauthorized music use.
Incident Overview
On November 5, 2025, the White House and Department of Homeland Security posted a joint Instagram video set to Olivia Rodrigo's 'All-American Bitch,' the opening track from her 2023 album Guts. The clip begins with footage of ICE officers tackling, detaining, and deporting individuals, transitioning to a montage of immigrants smiling and giving thumbs up while boarding voluntary flights. The caption urges: 'LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.'
Rodrigo, a three-time Grammy winner, responded directly in the comments: 'don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.' Billboard reached out to the White House and ICE for comment but received no immediate response.
Artist's Background and Stance
Rodrigo has been outspoken against the Trump administration's policies. She endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and addressed ICE raids in a June 2025 Instagram Story: '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. I stand for our right to freedom of speech and freedom to protest.'
Broader Context
This incident fits a pattern of the Trump administration using music without permission. Recently, Kenny Loggins criticized the pairing of his song 'Danger Zone' with an AI-generated video, and Taylor Swift fans protested a White House TikTok using 'The Fate of Ophelia,' though Swift did not comment. Such uses have sparked backlash from artists opposed to Trump's policies, including his immigration crackdowns.