Olivia Rodrigo says Trump administration uses feuds with pop stars as a distraction

Rodrigo described the practice of “picking fights” as “a great distraction while they do other awful, awful things"

Olivia Rodrigo has accused Donald Trump’s administration of using conflicts with pop stars as a distraction from other controversial actions, after the US government used one of her songs in an immigration-related video.

The Grammy-winning singer discussed her ongoing frustration with the Trump administration during an interview with NPR on September 3, 2026. Rodrigo said she believes the administration’s clashes with musicians can draw attention away from wider political issues.

“I think that's sort of a little bit of a tool they use,” Rodrigo said, describing the practice of “picking fights with pop stars” as “a great distraction while they do other awful, awful things.”

Rodrigo was previously angered after the Department of Homeland Security used her 2023 song All-American Bitch in a social media video promoting self-deportation among undocumented immigrants.

The video featured footage connected to immigration enforcement and was accompanied by messaging encouraging people in the US illegally to leave the country. Rodrigo responded at the time by objecting to the use of her music, writing that her songs should not be used to promote what she described as “racist, hateful propaganda”.

The incident was particularly controversial because All-American Bitch was written about the conflicting expectations and pressures placed on women, rather than immigration enforcement. The song was subsequently removed from the government video.

Rodrigo has continued to speak publicly about political and social issues, including immigration and women's rights. Her activism has also extended to her music career, with her inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival taking place in California recently.

The all-women festival, which featured artists including Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Stevie Nicks, raised $20 million for organisations supporting women and girls.

Rodrigo's comments come as she prepares to embark on her Unraveled Tour in support of her third studio album, You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. The tour is scheduled to begin in North America later this month.

Her criticism also places her among a growing number of major artists who have objected to the use of their music or public profiles in connection with Trump's political messaging.