White House Uses Drake’s ‘ICEMAN’ for TikTok Promo

In a move that has raised eyebrows and drawn significant backlash, the White House has incorporated Drake’s song ‘ICEMAN’ into a TikTok promotional video. The clip, which features footage of President Donald Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, uses the outro track ‘Make Them Know’ as its soundtrack, sparking debate about the government’s use of popular music for political messaging.

A Bizarre Political Tie-In

The video showcases President Trump in snowy settings and ICE agents in action, set against Drake’s music. This unexpected pairing immediately drew criticism online, with many labeling the content as ‘corny,’ ‘malicious,’ and ‘hateful.’ The general sentiment among many fans and observers was that OVO (Drake’s record label) would likely not approve of their artist’s music being used in this context.

This isn’t the first time the White House has linked itself to Drake’s ‘ICEMAN.’ Previously, an edited version of the album’s cover art was posted, depicting Michael Jackson’s iconic glove holding a MAGA chain. This unprompted tie-in from a government entity has been described as one of the most bizarre ‘ICEMAN’ collaborations to date.

Backlash from Hip-Hop Community

The White House’s use of Drake’s music has not only angered fans but also drawn criticism from hip-hop legends. Scarface, for instance, took to social media to express his disapproval, suggesting that the Trump administration was promoting a white power agenda by using the ‘ICEMAN’ cover art. He theorized that the hand sign, which refers to Toronto’s ‘6ix,’ was being recontextualized by the White House to symbolize white supremacy.

Insensitivity and Misappropriation Concerns

The ‘ICEMAN’ album title itself has faced criticism for being insensitive, particularly given recent developments and controversies surrounding ICE’s treatment of civilians and its perceived xenophobic ideology. Critics argue that using the album’s title and music for a government promo is tone-deaf and a misappropriation of the artist’s work.

Drake himself has previously referred to ICE as ‘fake feds’ on the track and has never publicly aligned himself with right-wing political circles. It’s highly probable that the Canadian superstar is not pleased with his music being used for what many perceive as bigoted political propaganda by the US government.