--- title: "White House removes Zara Larsson's song after TikTok ICE video sparks backlash" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/white-house-removes-zara-larssons-song-after-tiktok-ice-video-sparks-backlash" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/white-house-removes-zara-larssons-song-after-tiktok-ice-video-sparks-backlash" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/white-house-removes-zara-larssons-song-after-tiktok-ice-video-sparks-backlash.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/white-house-removes-zara-larssons-song-after-tiktok-ice-video-sparks-backlash" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-18T02:05:15.901Z" source_reported: "2026-09-18T01:20:33.554Z" updated: "2026-09-18T02:05:15.901Z" trust_score: 62 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 25 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-18T02:00:10.799619+00:00" --- # White House removes Zara Larsson's song after TikTok ICE video sparks backlash *The administration pulled "Midnight Sun" from a TikTok reel after the Swedish singer called the clip dehumanising and labelled the White House "losers".* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Trust 62: multiple independent outlets name Zara Larsson and the White House, providing corroborated facts without anonymous sources. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: includes Larsson’s direct quotes, clear separation of facts, explains context and next steps. - Hype 25 of 100, lower is better. Hype 25: headlines are strong but article content matches the claims without exaggerated language. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The White House posted a TikTok video of ICE arrests with Zara Larsson's song "Midnight Sun" as background music. - Larsson responded on TikTok, describing the clip as dehumanising and calling the White House "losers". - Following her criticism, the White House removed the song from the reel. - The incident was reported by outlets across the political spectrum. The White House’s official TikTok account shared a 19‑second reel that showed ICE agents handcuffing and deporting roughly a dozen men. The clip used the Swedish pop star’s track "Midnight Sun" and carried the caption "never ending deportations". Zara Larsson posted her own TikTok reply, calling the video "dehumanising" and expressing sadness. In the response she held up an "L" gesture and said the White House were "losers", using strong language to condemn the use of her music. After the criticism, the White House removed "Midnight Sun" from the TikTok reel, ending the use of the song in that particular post. > "You guys are such f*****g losers. Like, it's crazy." > > — Zara Larsson, singer ## What the coverage left out None of the left‑rated digests mention that the White House removed the song after Larsson’s criticism. None of the right‑rated reports mention the removal either. ## Who covered it Shares of the 15 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 47% (7) - Centre: 46% (7) - Right: 7% (1) 0 of 15 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-18T02:00:10.799619+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-18T02:45:07.679Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - All seven left‑rated outlets highlighted Larsson’s condemnation, her description of the video as dehumanising, and her use of the phrase "you guys are such f*****g losers". The Daily Mirror’s full report quoted her at length, noting her frustration with the White House and her broader comments about immigration and luck. Several digests (Stuff, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Cut, Variety, IBTimes) also placed the incident in the context of other artists who have objected to their music being used by the administration. ### Centre - All seven centre‑rated outlets reported the basic facts: the White House used "Midnight Sun" in a TikTok showing ICE arrests, Larsson called the clip dehumanising, and the administration subsequently removed the song. The BBC digest explicitly noted the removal, while The Source, Mandatory, Forbes, The Hill, Reality Tea and Newsner Svenska focused on the criticism and the corrective action without quoting the profanity. ### Right - The single right‑rated outlet, the Washington Times, centred its digest on Larsson’s direct quote calling the White House "losers" and on the fact that the song was used in an ICE video. It did not mention the subsequent removal of the track. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 4 - high: 7 - veryHigh: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [BBC News](https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqr7d3l0y2zpo) — Zara Larsson criticises White House for using her song in deportation video - [Stuff](https://stuff.co.nz/culture/361035148/losers-zara-larsson-condemns-white-house-video-using-her-song) — ‘Losers’: Zara Larsson condemns White House for video using her song - [The Source](https://thesource.com/2026/09/17/zara-larsson-rips-white-house-over-unauthorized-song-use-in-immigration-post-you-guys-are-such-fking-losers) — Zara Larsson Rips White House Over Unauthorized Song Use in Immigration Post: "You guys are such f**king losers.” - [Mandatory](https://mandatory.com/celebrities/1853317-zara-larsson-white-house-ice-midnight-sun) — Zara Larsson Reacts to Her Unexpected White House Feature - [Forbes](https://forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/09/17/zara-larsson-condemns-white-house-for-using-her-song-in-ice-deportation-video-im-just-sad) — Zara Larsson Condemns White House For Using Her Song In ICE Deportation Video: ‘I’m Just Sad’ - [The Cut](https://thecut.com/article/zara-larsson-condemns-dehumanizing-white-house-tiktok.html) — Zara Larsson Condemns ‘Dehumanizing’ White House TikTok - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/6096395-zara-larsson-slams-white-house) — Zara Larsson bashes White House over ‘Midnight Sun’ ICE video: ‘You guys are such f—ing losers’ - [RollingStone](https://rollingstone.com/music/music-news/zara-larsson-trump-white-house-midnight-sun-ice-tiktok-1235628493) — Zara Larsson Slams Trump White House for Using ‘Midnight Sun’ in ICE Video: ‘So Dehumanizing’ - [Billboard](https://billboard.com/music/music-news/zara-larsson-slams-white-house-using-midnight-sun-ice-video-1236342637) — Zara Larsson Slams White House for Using ‘Midnight Sun’ in ICE Video: ‘So Dehumanizing’ - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/17/zara-larsson-calls-white-house-losers-ice-video-using-song) — Zara Larsson calls White House 'losers' over ICE video using her song - [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/music/news/zara-larsson-white-house-ice-video-trump-1236865792) — Zara Larsson Blasts Trump’s White House as ‘F—ing Losers’ for Using ‘Midnight Sun’ to Promote Deportations - [IBTimes UK](https://ibtimes.co.uk/zara-larsson-white-house-ice-video-midnight-sun-1820390) — Zara Larsson Calls Trump White House 'Losers' After Song Is Used in ICE Video - [Reality Tea](https://realitytea.com/2026/09/17/zara-larsson-white-house-ice-midnight-sun) — Zara Larsson Reacts to Her Unexpected White House Feature - [Newsner Svenska](https://newsner.com/nyheter/zara-larssons-ilska-mot-vita-huset-efter-publicerade-bilderna) — Zara Larsson's Anger at the White House - After the Published Pictures - [Daily Mirror](https://mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/zara-larssons-1-word-insult-37672511) — Zara Larrson's 1-word insult for Donald Trump after song used in ICE video ## Questions **What song did the White House use in the TikTok video?** The White House used Zara Larsson’s track "Midnight Sun" as the background music for a TikTok reel that showed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arresting and deporting people. The use of the song prompted a public reaction from the artist. **How did Zara Larsson respond to the video?** Larsson posted a TikTok reply describing the clip as dehumanising, expressing sadness, and calling the White House "losers" while holding up an "L" gesture. She also criticised the association of her music with immigration enforcement and highlighted the humanity of the people shown. **What action did the White House take after her criticism?** Following Larsson’s criticism, the White House removed "Midnight Sun" from the TikTok reel. The removal was noted by several centre‑rated outlets, confirming that the administration ceased using the song in that particular post. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/white-house-removes-zara-larssons-song-after-tiktok-ice-video-sparks-backlash. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "White House removes Zara Larsson's song after TikTok ICE video sparks backlash", https://mediabias.news/politics/white-house-removes-zara-larssons-song-after-tiktok-ice-video-sparks-backlash