Swedish singer Zara Larsson has publicly criticised the White House for using her song "Midnight Sun" in a social media reel that featured deportation footage, saying the pairing was "dehumanising." Following her objection, the White House removed the track from the reel.
Larsson, a well-known international pop artist, took issue with the juxtaposition of her music and the images in the clip. Her remarks drew attention to the broader question of how creative works are used in political communications and the sensitivities that can arise when popular music is paired with contentious subject matter.
The White House's action to remove the song from the reel ended that specific use, though officials have not issued a detailed public explanation about how the music was selected or whether the use was licensed. The incident nonetheless reignited discussion about the responsibilities of public institutions when using artists' music in official messaging.
Artists and rights holders have in recent years increasingly objected to unauthorized or unwanted placements of their work in political contexts, prompting debates over copyright, licensing, and the ethics of soundtracking real-world events. The exchange between Larsson and the White House highlights those tensions at the intersection of culture and government communication.