Kesha Calls Out White House for TikTok Clip Turning Her Song Into War Messaging
Kesha is speaking out after the White House used her hit song Blow in a TikTok video without her permission. The video, shared on the official White House account, showed military jets flying through the sky and hitting a naval ship, all timed to the song’s hook.
The clip was captioned Lethality and included fire and eagle emojis. Fans and critics immediately noticed, and the video quickly sparked controversy online. The singer took to social media on Monday to express her shock and frustration. She said she was deeply disturbed that her music was being used to incite violence and threaten war.
She added that it was disgusting and inhumane to turn something meant to entertain into a tool for promoting conflict, and she made it clear that she does not approve of her art being used in this way. Kesha encouraged her fans to focus on compassion instead of conflict, writing that love always trumps hate.
She also described the government’s use of her song as a blatant disregard for human life and as something that unsettles people everywhere. In her post, she reminded her followers not to let this musical dispute distract them from bigger political issues, including reports involving the President in the Epstein files.
— kesha (@KeshaRose) March 2, 2026
This controversy comes at a sensitive time internationally. Over the past weekend, military actions involving Iran were launched, which the administration described as part of a massive ongoing campaign. Videos showing military operations, especially paired with music, are therefore more likely to cause alarm and attract public scrutiny.
Kesha is not alone in objecting to her music being used by government accounts. Just last week, Radiohead demanded that their song Let Down be removed after a government agency used it in a promotional post.
Other artists, like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and SZA, have previously raised objections when their songs were tied to political messaging about border and immigration policies. Music industry experts say this seems to be a pattern, with the government often selecting tracks from artists known for holding opposing political views.
Despite public objections, artists often have limited legal options to stop these uses. Licensing agreements on major social media platforms can allow content to be shared even when creators disapprove. That leaves musicians like Kesha and others in a frustrating position, where their work is widely seen but used in ways they never intended.
Away from the controversy, Kesha has been focusing on her career as an independent artist. She recently launched her own label, Kesha Records, and is preparing for a series of festival appearances throughout the spring and summer.
The singer has long been an advocate for creative control and artists’ rights, and her stand against the White House’s use of Blow is another example of her fighting to protect her music from being misused.
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