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MGMT Forces Homeland Security to Remove Song from ICE Recruitment Video
The Department of Homeland Security has been compelled to remove MGMT’s hit song “Little Dark Age” from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recruitment video after the band issued a formal takedown request, calling the content “propaganda.”
The video, posted by DHS on October 23, depicted federal agents arresting protesters outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon. The footage was captioned “End of the Dark Age, beginning of the Golden Age,” and used MGMT’s 2017 track as its soundtrack.
“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 Instagram, prompting swift action from the agency.
DHS subsequently deleted the video entirely from its X (formerly Twitter) account, while leaving a soundless version on Instagram. As of Saturday night, the video with the song reportedly remained accessible on the department’s Bluesky account.
The situation carries a notable irony, as MGMT members Andrew VanWyngarden and Benjamin Goldwasser have 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 removal, MGMT fans flooded the DHS Instagram post with critical comments. “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.”
This unauthorized use reflects a complex pattern in how the song has been appropriated in recent years. According to a report by the UK’s Institute for Strategic Dialogue, “Little Dark Age” became “by far the most popular Sound among extremist creators on TikTok” after it became part of a viral trend on the platform in 2021.
The incident is not isolated. DHS has faced similar copyright issues in recent weeks, being forced to remove social media content that inappropriately used The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” earlier this month. During the summer, the department also had to take down a post that used Jay-Z’s “Public Service Announcement” for ICE recruitment purposes.
These takedown requests highlight the ongoing tension between musical artists and government agencies using their creative works without permission, particularly when the political messaging contradicts the artists’ own values or the intended meaning of their music.
MGMT, formed in 2002 at Wesleyan University by VanWyngarden and Goldwasser, has maintained a strong creative identity throughout their career. The band rose to prominence with their debut album “Oracular Spectacular” in 2007, which featured hits like “Kids” and “Electric Feel,” before evolving their sound with subsequent releases including 2018’s “Little Dark Age.”
The unauthorized use of music in political or governmental contexts remains a persistent issue across administrations, with artists frequently objecting to having their creative works associated with policies or messages they do not endorse.
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8 Comments
I’m curious to know more about the context and messaging behind that ICE recruitment video. Using MGMT’s ‘Little Dark Age’ seems like an odd artistic choice, given the song’s darker themes.
Yes, the song choice is quite puzzling. Perhaps ICE was trying to convey some kind of ‘new era’ messaging, but it comes across as tone-deaf given the band’s objections.
This highlights the importance of artists maintaining control over the use of their work. It’s good to see MGMT taking action to prevent their music from being used for government propaganda purposes.
I appreciate MGMT taking a stand against the unauthorized use of their music for government propaganda purposes. Artists should have the right to choose how their work is represented.
The situation raises interesting questions around the intersection of art, politics, and censorship. While the band has the right to protect their intellectual property, it will be worth watching how this plays out in the broader debate over free speech.
That’s a fair point. There are complex free speech considerations at play, beyond just the copyright issues. It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Interesting situation with MGMT and ICE using their song without permission. The band was right to issue a takedown request – artists should have control over how their music is used, especially for political propaganda.
Agreed, it’s good to see MGMT stand up for their creative rights. Unauthorized use of music in government propaganda is concerning.