Pop star Kesha is pushing back after her 2011 single “Blow” was featured in a White House TikTok video depicting military firepower, a pairing she says crosses a line.
The clip, posted Feb. 10 to President Donald Trump’s White House TikTok account, shows a fighter jet launching a missile at a naval vessel. As the projectile strikes, Kesha’s lyrics play over the footage: “Tonight, we’re taking names / ‘Cause we don’t mess around / This place about to blow.”
The post is captioned “Lethality,” accompanied by a fire emoji and an eagle emoji. It has drawn more than 2 million likes and 16.7 million views.
Weeks later, Kesha addressed the video publicly. On Monday (March 2), the “BOY CRAZY” singer posted a statement to X, formerly known as Twitter, condemning the use of her track.
“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 wrote.
“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. Love always trumps hate. Please love yourself and each other in times like this.
‘Stop using my music.’
“This show of blatant disregard for human life and quite frankly this attack on all of our nervous systems is the opposite of what I stand for.”
Hours later, she reiterated the message in a follow-up post, again writing, “Stop using my music,” while tagging the White House account directly.
White House Fires Back
The administration did not stay silent. White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung responded on X, dismissing the criticism.
“All these ‘singers’ keep falling for this,” he wrote. “This just gives us more attention and more view counts to our videos because people want to see what they’re b******* about. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The exchange quickly circulated online, with supporters and critics weighing in on both sides. Some users defended Kesha’s stance, arguing that artists have the right to object when their work is paired with political messaging. Others echoed Cheung’s suggestion that the backlash would only amplify the video’s reach.
A Familiar Dispute
Kesha is not the first musician to challenge the White House over social media usage. In recent months, artists including SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Jess Glynne and Olivia Rodrigo have publicly objected to posts featuring their music.
Disputes over political use of songs are hardly new. Musicians have long sought to distance their catalogs from campaigns, candidates or government messaging that conflicts with their values. In the age of TikTok, however, those disagreements unfold in real time and often reach millions before an artist is even aware.
Art, Intent and Impact
“Blow” was originally released during Kesha’s early pop era, built around dance-floor energy and tongue-in-cheek bravado. In its original context, the lyrics were a party chant. In the White House video, the same lines underscore an explosion.
For Kesha, that reframing appears to be the issue.
Her statement emphasizes both the tone and the broader climate. By calling the post “disgusting and inhumane,” she framed the dispute as more than a licensing concern. She positioned it as a moral objection.
Whether the administration removes the clip remains unclear. As of publication, the TikTok continues to circulate widely across platforms.
What is certain: Kesha has made her stance unmistakable. “Stop using my music,” she wrote… twice.
