Zara Larsson Criticizes White House Over Use of Her Song in Deportation Video
The White House used Larsson's 'Midnight Sun' in a TikTok post showing ICE agents deporting people, captioned 'Never ending deportations.' Larsson responded on TikTok expressing sadness and urging empathy, calling the White House 'f—ing losers.' She emphasized shared humanity with those depicted in the video.
Larsson's response came after the White House's official TikTok account posted footage of ICE agents detaining individuals, set to her track "Midnight Sun," with the caption "Never ending deportations." The singer addressed the clip directly in her own video reply, visibly gesturing with an "L" sign while speaking about the emotional weight of seeing her music paired with the imagery.
The article, published September 17, 2026, by reporter Tanya Fedak, positions the incident within a broader pattern of artists objecting to unauthorized political use of their work. Larsson's remarks emphasized common ground between herself, the video's creators, and the people depicted, framing the situation as a matter of circumstance rather than inherent difference.
This clash could intensify ongoing debates about artists' control over their creative output when used in political contexts, potentially prompting more musicians to preemptively restrict licensing for government use. The viral nature of both posts may also shape public perception of immigration enforcement, as audiences on either side of the issue could use the exchange to reinforce existing views. Larsson's emotional appeal might resonate with younger, social media-native demographics, possibly influencing how cultural figures engage with political controversies moving forward.