White House Responds After SZA Slams ICE Ad for Using Her Song: “Thank You for the Attention”

White House Responds After SZA Slams ICE Ad for Using Her Song: “Thank You for the Attention”

The White House is firing back after SZA publicly blasted the administration for using her song “Cuffing Season” in a pro-ICE promotional video — a move she previously called “evil” and “boring.”

In a statement shared on social media, a White House spokeswoman thanked the singer for amplifying the clip, writing:
“Thank you, SZA, for drawing even more attention to the tremendous work America’s ICE officers are doing by arresting dangerous criminal illegal aliens in American communities.” The response comes days after SZA and TDE President Punch blasted the ICE promo video, which featured her single without her approval. Punch accused the White House of intentionally provoking artists, tweeting:
“Trying to provoke artist to respond in order to help spread propaganda and political agendas is nasty business. Knock it off.”

SZA echoed the frustration and criticized the administration’s tactics, writing:
“White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK… inhumanity + shock and aw tactics… Evil n Boring.”

The back-and-forth has now escalated into a rare public clash between a platinum-selling artist and the sitting administration — with SZA rejecting the political use of her music, and the White House seemingly doubling down.