Digital Phablet – Noah Kahan has added his name to the list of artists who have publicly distanced themselves from the Trump administration.
On Monday, the official White House social media accounts posted a series of photos and videos marking President Trump’s visit to a General Motors plant in Michigan. One of these featured Kahan’s track “American Cars.”
The White House captioned a TikTok clip of Trump signing a Corvette, “Nothing beats American cars.”
After some fans voiced their concerns about the use of Kahan’s music to promote Trump’s visit, the singer swiftly withdrew his song from the content.
He publicly stated, “I would never approve my music being used to support you or this administration.”
Kahan’s guitarist and co-writer of the song, Noah Levine, also responded with a sharp comment, saying, “You fat f***, this song isn’t for you.”
Their statements garnered attention from the Trump team. Kaelan Dorr, the deputy assistant to the President and Deputy Communications Director at the White House, took to X (formerly Twitter), mocking, “Symptoms of [Trump derangement syndrome] apparently include a northern attitude,” referencing another of Kahan’s songs.
Despite the controversy, the song “American Cars” has been removed from Trump’s Instagram post, although the TikTok version remains online.
When approached for comment, the White House declined to provide further details.
Kahan and Levine’s protests are part of a broader movement by artists who have condemned the White House for using their music without permission. Recently, Katy Perry criticized the White House for incorporating her 2010 hit “Firework” in a social media clip that depicted military strikes in Iran.
She expressed her disapproval openly, stating, “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it. My song is an anthem of hope, resilience, and inner strength for those facing their darkest struggles. Seeing it weaponized to promote violence and destruction fundamentally contradicts its purpose.”
Other musicians such as Olivia Rodrigo, Queen, Nickelback, Rihanna, R.E.M., Steven Tyler, Neil Young, and many more have also publicly demanded that Trump cease using their music at rallies, events, and social media posts.