Bad Bunny forces removal of White House ICE video after his song was used in a video

Viral clip disappeared within hours as criticism grew over unauthorised use of chart topping track on social media

The White House has faced widespread criticism after using a Bad Bunny song in a promotional video highlighting Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, with the clip later disappearing after the Puerto Rican superstar successfully had the audio removed from the platform.

The now deleted video was posted to the White House's official TikTok account on July 30. It featured footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detaining undocumented migrants while Bad Bunny's track "La Mudanza" from his album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS played in the background.

The video also altered one of the song's lyrics for a political message. While the original lyric praises parents, text placed over the video read, "A round of applause for Donald J Trump because he really crushed it." The post was captioned, "We're making America great again."

The use of the song quickly prompted criticism online because Bad Bunny has repeatedly criticised the Trump administration's immigration policies and has publicly opposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Fans argued that using his music in support of immigration enforcement contradicted the artist's long established public stance.

Within hours of the video attracting attention, the audio associated with the TikTok post was removed. Reports indicated that the removal followed action taken on behalf of Bad Bunny, preventing the White House video from continuing to use the song. Although the video itself remained accessible for a period, it no longer featured the original music.

Nefasto que la Casa Blanca utilice «LA MuDANZA» de Bad Bunny como propaganda política para ICE.

ICE OUT pic.twitter.com/SXpRapzuOf

— BAD BUNNY DAILY UPDATES (@keiveiec) July 31, 2026

The latest dispute adds to a growing list of artists objecting to the use of their music in political messaging without approval. Bad Bunny has become one of the most outspoken musicians on immigration issues in recent years, using interviews, performances and public appearances to criticise deportation policies and advocate for immigrant communities.

The controversy also follows heightened tensions between the artist and President Donald Trump. During the lead up to Bad Bunny's SUPER BOWL halftime performance, Trump criticised the decision to select the singer, saying he had never heard of him. The performance later became a flashpoint in broader debates surrounding immigration and Latino representation in American popular culture.

This is not the first occasion in recent weeks where the White House has faced criticism from musicians over the use of copyrighted songs. Ariana Grande previously condemned the administration after her song "Bye" was used in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement related video, calling the footage "barbaric" and "inhumane." Kesha also criticised the use of her song "Blow" in a military themed video, while Boards Of Canada and their label Warp Records objected to the unauthorised use of "Deep Time" in social media posts featuring border patrol operations.

Other artists who have publicly opposed the use of their music in political campaigns or government messaging over the years include The Rolling Stones, Adele, Neil Young, Jack White, ABBA, Céline Dion, Foo Fighters, the estate of Isaac Hayes and Eddie Grant.

The removal of Bad Bunny's song from the White House TikTok underscores the increasing willingness of artists and rights holders to enforce control over how their music is used online.