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Homeland Security Removes MGMT’s “Little Dark Age” from ICE Video After Band Objects
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed MGMT’s hit song “Little Dark Age” from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruitment video following a copyright takedown request from the band.
MGMT publicly denounced the unauthorized use of their 2017 track, describing the DHS video as “propaganda” in a statement posted on Instagram. The controversial video, shared by DHS on October 23, depicted federal agents arresting protesters outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, and was captioned: “End of the Dark Age, beginning of the Golden Age.”
“MGMT is aware of ‘Little Dark Age’ being featured in a propaganda video by the Department of Homeland Security and has issued a takedown request for the unauthorized use of their music,” the band stated on social media.
In response to the complaint, DHS completely deleted the video from its X (formerly Twitter) account. However, as of Saturday night, the video remained on the department’s Instagram account without MGMT’s music, while both the video and song were still present on DHS’s Bluesky account.
The song choice carried particular irony given its origins. MGMT, formed in 2002 by Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser, has previously revealed that “Little Dark Age” was written in direct response to Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory. “Apparently we were more inspired to write pop music after evil took over the world,” VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone in a 2018 interview.
Before the song’s removal, fans of the band expressed outrage in comments on the DHS Instagram post. “MGMT would never support this,” wrote one commenter. “Please do not use their music to push your disturbing and hateful narrative.” Another pointed out: “The irony is that little dark age is about how s*** like this is bad.”
The situation highlights a complex dynamic surrounding the song’s cultural position. Despite its anti-Trump origins, “Little Dark Age” has been appropriated by far-right groups in recent years. According to a report by the UK’s Institute for Strategic Dialogue, the track became “by far the most popular Sound among extremist creators on TikTok” after it featured in a viral trend on the platform in 2021.
This is not the first time federal immigration authorities have faced copyright issues for unauthorized music use in promotional materials. Earlier this month, DHS was forced to remove a social media post that used The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” without permission. During the summer, the department also had to take down a post that featured Jay-Z’s “Public Service Announcement” to promote ICE recruitment.
These incidents reflect ongoing tensions between artists and government agencies over control of creative content and its political associations. Federal agencies like DHS typically must secure proper licensing or permission before using copyrighted music in official communications or promotional materials.
The controversy occurs amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement policies, with ICE and DHS activities remaining politically divisive topics in American discourse. Music artists increasingly find themselves navigating the complex terrain where their creative works intersect with political messaging, often taking public stands to maintain control over how their art is used and perceived.
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7 Comments
I’m curious to know more about the specific reasons MGMT objected to the use of their song in the ICE video. Was it the political messaging, the association with a controversial government agency, or something else? It would be interesting to hear their perspective in more detail.
That’s a good question. Based on their statement, it seems MGMT felt the use of their music was an unauthorized and inappropriate attempt to associate their art with the agency’s agenda and activities.
The fact that ICE had to remove the song after MGMT’s takedown request shows the power artists have to control the use of their intellectual property. This highlights the ongoing tensions between government agencies, law enforcement, and the creative community.
Absolutely. Artists should have the right to refuse the use of their work in ways they deem unethical or misrepresentative of their intentions.
While I’m not surprised ICE would try to use a popular song in a recruitment video, it’s good to see MGMT take a stand against the unauthorized use of their music for what they consider propaganda purposes. It’s a complex issue with valid concerns on both sides.
Interesting that the band MGMT objected to the use of their song ‘Little Dark Age’ in an ICE recruitment video. It’s understandable that artists would want to avoid having their work associated with controversial government agencies or used for propaganda purposes.
The removal of MGMT’s song from the ICE video after their objection highlights the importance of artists maintaining control over the use of their creative works. It’s a reminder that even government agencies have to respect intellectual property rights.