When the federal government, including the White House, starts leaning on artists over song lyrics, there’s a problem.
When powerful federal officials, including those at the White House, start leaning on artists over song lyrics, there’s a problem.
The scope of Team Trump’s efforts to steer the culture make that problem worse. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-10-09T18:45:23.250Z
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kristi-noem-zach-bryan-song-ice-lyrics-country-music-rcna236677
Noem nevertheless found some time to condemn country music star Zach Bryan for writing a song warning that ICE “is going to come bust down your door.” The New York Times reported:
Noem had called Bryan’s song ‘completely disrespectful,’ and in pointed remarks aimed at him said she was ‘very happy that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle.’ ... Asked on Tuesday by the right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson what she thought of Bryan’s lyrics, Noem replied that the song disrespected not only law enforcement officials but also ‘every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms.’ The song, Noem said, ‘attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe.’
......The White House added to the offensive, issuing a statement accusing the musician of wanting to “Open The Gates to criminal illegal aliens,” referring to a different song......
Team Trump wants talk shows like “The View” to host conversations more in line with the White House’s wishes. Team Trump wants cartoons like “South Park” and sketch-comedy shows like “Saturday Night Live” to entertain in ways more in line with the White House’s wishes. Team Trump wants cultural institutions such as the Kennedy Center to host productions more in line with the White House’s wishes.
And Team Trump wants musicians to write lyrics more in line with the White House’s wishes.
In countries confronted with authoritarian movements, there’s always a push among those in positions of political power to steer the culture. It’s hard not to notice the degree to which it’s currently happening in the United States, too.
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