Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan criticized the White House after it used his song “American Cars” in a social media post highlighting President Donald Trump’s visit to a Michigan auto plant.
The White House posted a slideshow on TikTok and Instagram featuring photos from Trump’s recent visit to Michigan, using Kahan’s song from his fourth album, “The Great Divide,” as background music.
The song is available for use across several social media platforms — thanks to a 2024 deal between the Universal Music Group and Meta — but that’s not stopping Kahan and “American Cars” co-writer, guitarist Noah Levine, from complaining that the White House used it.
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“Would never approve of my music being used in support of you or this administration,” Kahan commented on the White House’s Instagram post.
Levine, according to a Billboard report, also commented on the post, saying, “You fat f*ck this song isn’t for you” — but the comment appears to have been deleted.
The music has since been disabled on the White House Instagram post.
Kahan is far from the first to complain about President Trump’s use of music for either a public appearance or a social media post.
Just last week, pop star Katy Perry complained that her song “Firework” was used in a White House video of military operations in Iran.
@whitehouseIran has been warned. 🎆♬ original sound – The White House
“I am deeply appalled and angry to see ‘Firework’ used on the [White House] TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes,” Perry wrote on X. “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.”
“I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments,” Perry complained. “To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for. My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare.”
I am deeply appalled and angry to see “Firework” used on the @WhiteHouse TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes. I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.
I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and…
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) July 25, 2026
As several quickly pointed out, however, Perry’s music is also available for use on TikTok under the platform’s licensing agreements with major record labels. The White House later removed the music from that post as well.
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