Full Breakdown
Kesha Condemns White House for Using Her Song in Military Video
3/5/2026, 11:03:20 AM
Controversy Over TikTok Video Featuring Kesha's Music
On February 10, 2026, the White House posted a TikTok video titled "Lethality," which featured military footage of a fighter jet launching a missile at a naval ship, set to Kesha's 2010 hit "Blow." The video quickly garnered over 14.5 million views and 1.8 million likes. Kesha publicly condemned the use of her song, stating, "It’s come to my attention that The White House has used one of my songs on TikTok to incite violence and threaten war." She characterized the video as an attempt to "make light of war," which she deemed "disgusting and inhumane."
Kesha's Response and Political Commentary
Kesha's response included a call for compassion, emphasizing that "love always trumps hate" and urging people to "love yourself and each other in times like this." She criticized the government's actions as a "blatant disregard for human life" and an "attack on all of our nervous systems." Additionally, Kesha suggested that the military strikes could serve as a distraction from ongoing allegations involving former President Donald Trump and his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, stating, "criminal predator Donald Trump appears in the files over a million times."
White House's Reaction
The White House's response to Kesha's criticism was dismissive. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung mocked her outrage, suggesting that it only increased the video's visibility. He stated, "All these 'singers' keep falling for this. This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re b****ing about." Deputy Assistant to the President Kaelan Dorr echoed this sentiment, claiming Kesha's quotes were like "Popeye's spinach" for the administration.
Broader Implications and Artist Backlash
Kesha's situation is part of a larger trend where artists have pushed back against the unauthorized use of their music by political entities. Other musicians, including Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, have similarly condemned the use of their songs in contexts they find objectionable. Carpenter described the use of her song in an ICE video as "evil and disgusting," while Rodrigo urged officials not to use her music for what she called "racist, hateful propaganda."
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Kesha's condemnation has been widely reported, the White House has not indicated any plans to remove the TikTok video featuring her song. The ongoing use of music by the administration raises questions about artists' rights and the ethical implications of using creative works in political messaging.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Trying to make light of war is disgusting and inhumane. I absolutely do NOT approve of my music being used to promote violence of any kind.” — Kesha
- “All these ‘singers’ keep falling for this. This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re bitching about.” — Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director
- “Kesha quotes are like Popeye's spinach to this team. Memes? They'll continue. Winning? Will also continue.” — Kaelan Dorr, Deputy Assistant to the President
Kesha's public condemnation of the White House's actions has sparked a significant conversation about the intersection of music, politics, and ethics, highlighting the responsibilities artists hold regarding the use of their work in political contexts.
