Olivia Rodrigo at the White House in Washington to film a video to promote vaccines. (July 14, 2021) (Photo: Susan Walsh/AP)
Olivia Rodrigo slams Trump’s DHS over “racist” video with her music
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Pop star Olivia Rodrigo condemned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for using her song "all-american b**ch" in a video promoting the self-deportation of undocumented immigrants, labeling it "racist, hateful propaganda."
- The controversy led to Instagram removing the audio from the video, while DHS responded by quoting the singer's lyrics back to her.
US Pop star Olivia Rodrigo condemned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Donald Trump for incorporating her music into a video she labeled as "racist, hateful propaganda."
The controversy erupted after DHS posted an Instagram video promoting self-deportation for undocumented immigrants, using a clip from Rodrigo's 2023 song "all-american b**ch" from her album Guts.
The video, shared on official DHS and White House accounts, featured scenes of ICE agents detaining individuals, transitioning to imagery of people leaving the country voluntarily.
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The video opened with the song's energetic intro and lyrics like "All the time/I’m grateful all the time/I’m sexy and I’m kind/I’m pretty when I cry," overlaid with captions urging immigrants to "LEAVE NOW" via a CBP app or face consequences.
Rodrigo, a Filipino American artist known for her advocacy on social issues, responded directly in a comment on the post: “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
Instagram afterwards stripped the audio from the video, replacing it with an unavailability notice.
In retaliation, DHS issued a statement quoting Rodrigo's own lyrics back at her: “America is grateful all the time for our federal law enforcement officers who keep us safe. We suggest Ms. Rodrigo thank them for their service, not belittle their sacrifice.”
Rodrigo's Activism
Earlier in 2025, Rodrigo criticized ICE raids in Los Angeles, stating on Instagram that the city "wouldn’t exist without immigrants" and decrying the lack of empathy in deportations.
Rodrigo joins a growing list of artists objecting to the administration's use of their work, including Beyoncé, the Rolling Stones, and Jess Glynne, who recently slammed a similar DHS video featuring her song "Hold My Hand."
Comedian Theo Von also accused DHS of misusing a clip of him out of context.
Under Trump's second term, the DHS has expanded ICE operations by lifting restrictions on arrests at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals, intensifying deportation efforts amid heated immigration debates.
