Photo Credit: Noah Kahan by Raph_PH / CC by 2.0
Noah Kahan criticized Trump’s use of his music on social media. White House officials clapped back. Now, the song has been removed from the post on Instagram.
On Tuesday, following the Trump administration’s use of Noah Kahan’s “American Cars” as the audio for a video posted on Instagram and TikTok, the artist made his stance known.
“Would never approve of my music being used in support of (Trump) or this administration,” he wrote in a reply on Instagram, which had 50,000 likes on Wednesday.
His remark apparently struck a nerve, leading Kaelan Dorr, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Communications Director, to respond on the former Twitter. “Symptoms of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) apparently include having a northern attitude,” Dorr wrote, referencing Kahan’s track “Northern Attitude.”
By Wednesday night, Kahan’s music was no longer in the administration’s post on Instagram. Several commenters noted the song’s absence, while others pointed out that it remains available on the TikTok version.
Of course, the “Stick Season” singer is far from the first artist to denounce the Trump administration’s use of their music on social media and in political rallies. That list includes ABBA, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dion, Eddy Grant, Elton John, the George Harrison Estate, the Isaac Hayes Estate, The Smiths, Katy Perry, Kesha, the Leonard Cohen Estate, Neil Young, Olivia Rodrigo, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins, the Prince Estate, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, the Tom Petty Estate, and Jack White, among others.
While many of these musicians have also issued or threatened cease-and-desist orders, the laws around the use of music on both social media and in public venues mean that it isn’t always up to the artist.
Outside of music, lots of celebrities have gotten into social media comment wars with Trump or members of his administration, including actor Robert De Niro, actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, athlete LeBron James, and comedian/TV hosts Rosie O’Donnell and Jimmy Kimmel.
Noah Kahan is currently busy on his The Great Divide Tour, supporting his fourth studio album of the same name. The release follows his 2022 hit, Stick Season, which served as his mainstream breakout.