Noah Kahan Joins Musicians Protesting White House Using Their Songs

What Happened?

Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan recently spoke out after the White House used his song "American Cars" in official social media posts. Here’s the simple breakdown:

• When: Monday (the White House post) and Tuesday (Kahan’s response)
• Where: Instagram and TikTok accounts run by the White House
• What the post showed: President Donald Trump visiting General Motors’ test site in Michigan
• What Kahan said: "Would never approve of my music being used in support of you or this administration."

Important Point: Kahan’s co-writer on the song, Noah Levine, also commented on Instagram with a much stronger message directed at the President.

Why Are Artists So Upset?

Think of it like this: Imagine you drew a picture, and someone put it on a poster for something you totally disagree with—without even asking you. That’s how these musicians feel.

Here are the main reasons artists are speaking up:

• No permission asked – The White House didn’t contact them first
• No approval given – The artists never said "yes, you can use this"
• Political disagreement – The songs are being used to support an administration the artists oppose
• Song meaning matters – Artists write songs with specific feelings and messages; using them differently changes their meaning

Other Artists Who Have Said "Not Okay"

Noah Kahan isn’t alone. A growing list of famous musicians have publicly criticized the White House for using their music without permission:

Important Point: This isn’t a new problem—musicians have been asking politicians to stop using their songs at rallies and in ads for decades. But social media makes it happen faster and more publicly.

How Does Music Licensing Work? (ELI5 Version)

You might wonder: Can the White House just use any song they want?

Short answer: No.

Long answer (simple version):

1. Songs have two main "owners":

   • The songwriter(s) (who wrote the words and melody)
   • The recording owner (usually a record label, who owns the actual recorded version)

2. To use a song legally in a video, you typically need permission from both:

   • A sync license from the songwriter/publisher
   • A master use license from the recording owner

3. Social media platforms (like TikTok and Instagram) have deals with some music companies, but those deals usually cover regular users making fun videos—not government accounts making political content

4. Political use is different – Even if a platform has a general license, using music for official government messaging almost always requires special, direct permission

What Happens Next?

As of the Variety article publication:

• No official response yet from Noah Kahan’s representatives
• No official response yet from the White House
• The TikTok post still has the song (as of reporting)
• The Instagram post appears to have the sound disabled

This situation could lead to:

• Formal legal requests to remove the content
• Public statements from more artists
• Discussions about updating rules for government social media accounts

Summary

• Noah Kahan publicly objected to the White House using his song "American Cars" in Instagram and TikTok posts featuring President Trump
• His co-writer Noah Levine also criticized the use
• At least 8 other major artists (including Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, and The Rolling Stones) have made similar complaints recently
• The core issue: Using music for political messaging without the artist’s permission
• Music licensing is complex, but political use by government accounts almost always requires direct approval

FAQ

Can’t the White House just use any song because it’s the government?

No. The government doesn’t have special rights to use copyrighted music without permission. In fact, government accounts are held to the same copyright rules as everyone else—and sometimes stricter ones for political content.

Why don’t artists just sue?

Lawsuits are expensive, slow, and public. Most artists start with public statements (like Kahan did) hoping the content gets taken down voluntarily. Legal action is usually a last resort.

Does TikTok/Instagram’s music library cover this?

Not for official government political posts. Platform music libraries are licensed for creators making personal content. Government accounts using music for official messaging fall under different rules and typically need separate licenses.

Has this happened with other presidents?

Yes! This is a bipartisan, long-running issue. Artists from many genres have objected to politicians from both parties using their music at rallies, in ads, and on social media without permission.

What can fans do?

Support artists’ rights to control their work. When musicians speak up about unauthorized use, they’re protecting their creative ownership—just like you’d want control over something you made.