The intersection of art and political enforcement has hit discordant notes as one of the most celebrated rock bands in history enters a legal skirmish with the United States government. The intersection of art and political enforcement has hit discordant notes as one of the most celebrated rock bands in history enters a legal skirmish with the United States government. Radiohead, a group famously protective of its intellectual property and ideological independence, has issued a stern demand for the immediate removal of a social media post by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The band, long known for its criticism of systemic alienation and government overreach, said the use of the song from their album OK Computer was an appropriation they would not accept without a fight. ICE had not publicly responded to the demand at the time of publication.
'You Don't Get to Appropriate It'
Radiohead's statement, shared on X, was direct. 'We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down,' the band wrote. 'It ain't funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don't get to appropriate it without a fight.' The statement concluded: 'Also, go f*** yourselves.'
Radiohead's 'Let Down' has been one of the fans' favourites. One said in a Reddit thread that it was 'so sad and happy and bittersweet all at the same time.' Another added that it was 'one of Radiohead's best songs and a song I always come back to for one reason or another.'
Grammy award winner Radiohead has demanded the Trump administration delete a pro-ICE promotional video featuring the band's song "Let Down" pic.twitter.com/cRAIov8MGt
— FactPost (@factpostnews) February 27, 2026
A Pattern of Unauthorised Music Use
Radiohead is not the only artist to find itself at odds with the current administration's use of popular music in its digital outreach. Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter have both faced similar situations in recent months, with their music appearing in DHS or ICE promotional content on social media without their consent.
Rodrigo's public reaction led to the swift removal of the content. Carpenter was similarly vocal, describing the use of her music alongside footage of ICE arrests as 'evil and disgusting.' 'Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,' she wrote on X. The speed with which these artists have responded reflects a growing frustration within the industry over the unauthorised use of music in political content.
This vocal resistance has become a hallmark of Gen Z artists who wish to maintain strict control over their political branding. The swiftness with which these artists and their teams respond suggests a growing frustration within the industry regarding how digital platforms facilitate the effortless, yet illegal, syncing of music to political content.
“all-american bitch” has been removed as a sound from the Department of Homeland Security’s Instagram post following Olivia’s comment! pic.twitter.com/yRK8jNVaVt
— Olivia Rodrigo Daily (@DailyRodrigo) November 8, 2025
this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) December 2, 2025
Taylor Swift's Silence Draws Criticism
While several of her peers have publicly condemned the use of their music by federal agencies, Taylor Swift has attracted criticism for not doing the same. Some have labelled her 'complicit' for failing to join the public pushback, particularly given her history of advocating for artists' rights and reclaiming ownership of her own work.
Her supporters argue that such matters are often handled through legal channels rather than public statements. The contrast between her silence and the responses of Radiohead, Rodrigo and Carpenter has nonetheless continued to fuel debate about the responsibilities of high-profile artists when their work is used in a political context.
