Zara Larsson Calls Out Trump Administration Over ICE Video Featuring ‘Midnight Sun’

Musicians have increasingly found themselves at odds with political campaigns over the unauthorized use of their songs, and this week, one of pop’s most recognizable voices, Zara Larsson, is at the center of such a dispute.

The Swedish singer, known for hits like “Lush Life” and “Symphony,” discovered that her song “Midnight Sun” was featured in an official White House TikTok video. The clip, which relates to U.S. immigration enforcement, prompted a strong emotional reaction from Larsson.

The 19-second video, shared on the White House’s official TikTok account, was captioned “never ending deportations,” echoing a lyric from her song. It depicted several men being restrained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, a portrayal that Larsson addressed directly in her own three-minute video response.

@zaralarsson #stitch with @The White House ♬ original sound – Zara Larsson

Instead of a brief statement, Larsson delivered a heartfelt and lengthy response, making an “L” sign with her hand as she spoke. “I’m just sad. My heart is heavy seeing that, because I wish I could speak to whoever made that video,” she expressed. “I wish I could talk to you, and I wish I could help you remember that you and I, we aren’t that different. And we’re not that different from the people in the video, either… This video is so dehumanizing. These people in the video are real people,” she shared in comments reported by Variety.

Larsson pointed out specific details from the footage, highlighting that one man was dressed in construction attire, arguing that many undocumented immigrants are simply individuals striving for better lives. She criticized the use of her song in the video, stating that “Midnight Sun” was about feeling connected to nature and humanity, calling the pairing “fcking uncool” and concluding with, “You guys are such fcking losers.”

This isn’t the first time the White House has used Larsson’s music in political content. Earlier this year, the administration featured her song “Lush Life” in a video of President Trump dancing, accompanied by text supporting the administration’s stance on immigration. Larsson responded to that incident with an Instagram story outlining her political values, which include support for immigrants, trans rights, and reproductive rights, while opposing ICE.

Larsson is not alone in her pushback. Ariana Grande has also criticized the administration for using her songs “Bye” and “We Can’t Be Friends” in White House TikTok videos related to immigration enforcement, indicating a broader trend of artists objecting to their music being repurposed without consent.

This situation underscores the ongoing tension between musicians and government social media accounts, particularly regarding the use of copyrighted music in politically charged contexts. For artists like Larsson, the issue transcends party politics, focusing instead on how their work is recontextualized in ways that contradict its original meaning.

Whether this latest controversy prompts any formal response from the White House or leads to changes in how official accounts select music for future posts remains uncertain. For now, Larsson has made her stance clear, joining a growing list of artists who refuse to remain silent when their music is linked to messages they do not support.

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