California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded to a controversial White House video featuring immigration enforcement by releasing an AI-generated clip that depicts former President Donald Trump and two of his former aides in handcuffs. This creative rebuttal comes in the wake of a video that used the song “Cuffing SZN” by artist SZA to show Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detaining individuals suspected of being undocumented immigrants.
The original White House video, which has drawn significant backlash, sparked outrage from SZA herself. She criticized the administration’s actions, calling them “Evil n Boring.” In contrast, Newsom’s video features Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller seated on a curb in handcuffs, with snow falling and sirens wailing in the background. The clip, posted on December 5, 2023, mimics the White House’s style but flips the narrative, presenting a satirical take on the administration’s use of music to promote its policies.
Newsom’s video showcases a creative twist, showing the three men in the back of a car with tears streaming down their faces, as they appear to walk towards a court building amid the haunting refrain of SZA’s hit. This release marks another chapter in the escalating digital exchange between Newsom and Trump, as the California governor seeks to position himself as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
In recent months, Newsom has utilized social media to directly challenge Trump’s messaging style, often employing exaggerated posts and AI-generated content. Just days before the handcuff video, Newsom shared an AI image of Trump presenting him with a fictitious ‘peace prize,’ coinciding with Trump’s real-life receipt of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA.
SZA’s manager also expressed concern about the White House’s tactics, accusing the administration of manipulating artists for political gain. In a post on X, he stated, “Trying to provoke artists to respond in order to help spread propaganda and political agendas is nasty business. Knock it off.” SZA echoed these sentiments, labeling the use of her music for political purposes as “PEAK DARK.”
The ongoing immigration policies under the Trump administration, known for their harshness, have stirred significant anger within the entertainment industry. On December 1, the White House released another video that featured agents enforcing immigration laws while set to Sabrina Carpenter‘s song “Juno.” Carpenter condemned the video as “evil and disgusting,” insisting that her music should not be used to support what she described as an inhumane agenda. Following the backlash, the administration promptly removed the video from its social media accounts.
In August, musician Jack White publicly denounced the administration for using his song “Seven Nation Army” in a promotional video featuring Trump. He threatened legal action against the administration, stating, “Oh…. Don’t even think about using my music you fascists.”
According to NBC’s Deportation Tracker, as of September 25, 2023, over 59,207 migrants had been detained by ICE, while reports indicate that approximately 2.5 million individuals have left the country due to deportations or self-removal since the onset of the administration’s immigration crackdown.
Newsom’s recent video and his ongoing social media campaign underline the growing tensions between the California governor and Trump. Peter Navarro, a former advisor to Trump, criticized Newsom’s video, claiming it incited violence and stated, “I went to prison, defending the constitution because of woke a–holes like you who weaponized our justice system.” Navarro received a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress after failing to comply with a subpoena related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
As this exchange continues, the political landscape remains charged, with artists and politicians alike grappling with the implications of using creative expressions in the realm of political discourse. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for further comment on this unfolding situation.
