Kesha Blasts White House for Using ‘Blow’ to ‘Incite Violence and Threaten War’ in TikTok Clip

Rolling Stone Music

by Althea Legaspi

March 3, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Kesha has criticized the White House for using her song "Blow" in a TikTok video that appeared to promote violence and war. The clip, posted on the White House’s official TikTok account earlier this year, featured bomber jets and bombs being dropped on a ship while Kesha’s music played. The White House captioned the video with the word “Lethality” alongside emojis of fire and an eagle. Kesha condemned the use of her song in a social media post, calling it “disgusting and inhumane” and emphasizing that she does not approve of her music being used to promote violence. She also referenced President Donald Trump’s ties to the Epstein files, linking the issue to broader concerns about his administration’s actions. Kesha joins a growing number of musicians who have spoken out against the White House’s unauthorized use of their songs in promotional or political content. Recently, Radiohead distanced themselves from ICE after the agency used a version of their song "Let Down" in a social media post. Similarly, artists like Sabrina Carpenter and SZA have objected to their music being used in government propaganda tied to immigration enforcement. These cases highlight a pattern where the White House selects songs by artists who are likely to oppose such usage, potentially to create controversy or draw attention. The issue of unauthorized music use on social media platforms raises questions about how licensing works and limits the ability of artists to control their work once it’s shared online. While artists can protest on social media, the legal framework for removing such content is limited due to platform policies. This situation underscores the challenges musicians face in protecting their creative output from being misused for political or harmful purposes. For readers interested in music and its role in society, this story highlights the tension between artistic expression and political messaging. It also raises ethical concerns about whether music should be used to promote violence or fear, especially when done without the artist’s consent. Kesha’s strong stance against such misuse reflects a broader conversation among artists about their responsibility to use their

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Originally published on Rolling Stone Music on 3/3/2026