Noah Kahan Fires Back at White House Over Unauthorized Use of "American Cars"

Singer Noah Kahan took to his own social‑media feed on July 27, 2026, to slam the White House after the administration posted an Instagram reel featuring President Donald Trump touring a General Motors plant in Milford, Michigan, set to Kahan’s track “American Cars.” The clip shows Trump speaking to workers about restoring auto jobs, paired with a caption that lauds the president’s commitment to Michigan.

Kahan’s reply, posted the same day, made it clear that he would never endorse his music being used in support of the administration. The singer’s comment was shared on social media and has not been independently verified beyond the artist’s own account.

In a statement to HuffPost, the White House said the song is part of Instagram’s public library and that “anyone can use it.” The administration also directed the outlet to a tweet from Kaelan Dorr, principal deputy communications director, in which Dorr referenced the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS) and mentioned Kahan’s earlier hit “Northern Attitude.” The tweet was posted on X on the same day as the Instagram reel.

Kahan’s representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

The incident follows a long line of musicians who have publicly opposed the use of their music by the Trump administration. In 2016, 2020, and 2024, artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Kenny Loggins, the Rolling Stones, Linkin Park, Neil Young, Black Sabbath, Rihanna, Adele, and the estates of Prince and Tom Petty issued statements or took legal action when their songs appeared in campaign rallies or on official social‑media posts.

The White House’s Instagram post was part of a broader promotion of Trump’s visit to the General Motors Milford Proving Ground on July 25, 2026. The president’s remarks at the site emphasized a policy of bringing automotive manufacturing back to the United States. The caption on the post noted that “for decades, globalists sold out Michigan autoworkers, shipping jobs overseas and gutting Detroit’s factories. Every president before Trump promised to stop it. None did. Now Michigan has a President who fights for workers and puts America FIRST.”

Under U.S. copyright law, a song that is available in a public library on a platform such as Instagram can be used without a separate license, provided the use complies with the platform’s terms of service. The White House’s claim that the track is in the public Instagram library is consistent with that interpretation.

The broader context of the dispute involves the administration’s history of using music in political messaging. The use of copyrighted works without explicit permission has led to lawsuits and public criticism, and it has prompted artists and rights holders to seek clearer licensing agreements for political events.

At present, the White House has not announced any changes to its music‑usage policy. No legal action has been filed by Kahan or his representatives. The artist’s statement remains the only public response to the administration’s use of his song.

The situation illustrates the ongoing tension between artists’ rights and political entities’ use of popular music. While the White House maintains that its use of “American Cars” complies with platform rules, the singer’s refusal to endorse the post underscores the importance of artist consent in political contexts.

The next step for Kahan is unclear, as his representatives have not issued a statement. The White House has not indicated whether it will remove the reel or alter its policy. The incident is likely to be cited in future discussions about music licensing for political content.