Olivia Rodrigo told Dazed magazine in a new interview ahead of the release of her third studio album that she was “enraged” last fall when she was scrolling on her phone and discovered that Trump’s Department of Homeland Security was using her song “All-American Bitch” to promote ICE deportations.
“It was so deeply disturbing to see that propaganda, and the fact it was my song in there made me feel even more enraged,” Rodrigo said. “What they’re doing is so awful and barbaric and cruel. I am really sad to be in a country that thinks that’s okay.”
Rodrigo initially responded to the DHS by commenting on the post: “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
The video was posted last year on Nov. 4 and used “All-American Bitch,” the first song on Rodrigo’s 2023 sophomore album “Guts,” over images of ICE agents detaining people of color. The DHS captioned the video: “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.” Rodrigo’s song played in the background with the following lyrics: “All the time, I’m grateful all the time, I’m sexy and I’m kind, I’m pretty when I cry.”
Rodrigo is far from the only artist to condemn Trump’s White House for using music without consent to promote ICE’s agenda. The DHS used Sabrina Carpenter’s “Juno” in a pro-ICE video last December, prompting the singer to post on social media: “This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
