The British rock band Radiohead called on Friday for the Trump administration to remove one of the group’s songs from a video on social media promoting the aggressive federal immigration crackdown, saying officials had done so without permission.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the song, “Let Down” from its acclaimed 1997 album “OK Computer,” in a Feb. 18 post on Instagram and Facebook that showed photographs of what the federal government described as victims of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
The agency cross-promoted the video with the White House, President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security, which ICE is a part of, drawing condemnation from the Grammy-winning band.
“We demand that the amateurs in control of the ICE social media account take it down,” the band said in a statement on Friday. “It ain’t funny, this song means a lot to us and other people, and you don’t get to appropriate it without a fight.”
The band had a parting four-letter expletive for federal immigration authorities in its statement.
The White House referred a request for comment on Friday to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Radiohead joins a long list of musicians who have fought against Mr. Trump’s use of their songs, including Jack White, Beyoncé and Céline Dion.
During the final months of the 2024 election, a federal judge ordered Mr. Trump’s campaign to stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming,” by Isaac Hayes, at rallies in response to a lawsuit from the artist’s estate.
Neil Vigdor covers breaking news for The Times, with a focus on politics.
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