Topline
Musician Kenny Loggins on Monday asked the Trump administration to remove his song “Danger Zone” from a controversial video in which the president appears to dump feces on top of of people protesting his administration—and the White House press office responded to Forbes’ request for comment with a meme from the film “Top Gun.”
Singer Kenny Loggins performs onstage on Sept. 27, 2025.
Getty Images
Key Facts
Loggins on Monday said in a statement that his song, originally performed for the 1986 movie “Top Gun,” was used in the video without his permission, adding “I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately.”
When Forbes sent an email to the White House asking for comment on Loggins’ statement, and asking whether the video would be taken down, the press office responded with a single image: A photo of actors Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards from the film with text overlay reading, “I feel the need for speed.”
The video was still up as of Monday at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
Trump posted the video to Truth Social on Saturday night, after an estimated 7 million people gathered nationwide for a “No Kings” protest against the his administration.
The AI-generated video showed himself wearing a crown while sitting in a fighter jet emblazoned with the phrase “King Trump.”
The jet then dumps a liquid brown material on top of crowds carrying American flags and signs, all while “Danger Zone” plays in the background.
The video quickly was shared across all the major social platforms, with millions of views.
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Crucial Quote
“I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us,” Loggins’ statement said.
Key Background
More than a dozen musicians have spoken out after their music was used without permission by Trump since his first campaign. Neil Young was one of the first, protesting the use of his songs at Trump campaign events in 2016, later suing after Trump used “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” at a campaign rally (Young dropped the suit after Trump lost the 2020 election). Michael Stipe, lead vocalist of rock band R.E.M., told the Trump camp to “go f—k yourselves” in 2015 after it used “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” on the campaign trail, and other artists who’ve spoken up include the Village People, The Rolling Stones, John Fogerty, Cher, Céline Dion and Beyoncé.
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/10/20/white-house-responds-with-top-gun-meme-after-kenny-loggins-asks-for-song-to-be-removed-from-controversial-ai-video/
