Linkin Park Reportedly Force Removal of White House Video Using ‘Somewhere I Belong’

Linkin Park have reportedly intervened after a White House social media video used ‘Somewhere I Belong’ without permission.

Linkin Park have reportedly moved to shut down a video shared by the official White House social media accounts after the band’s music was used without authorisation.

The clip, posted on New Year’s Eve, appeared across multiple White House platforms and featured a highlight reel promoting the accomplishments of US President Donald Trump. Soundtracking the video was ‘Somewhere I Belong’, the band’s 2003 single. According to reports, the song was used without permission from Linkin Park or their representatives, prompting a takedown request. The post is no longer available on the White House social media accounts at the time of writing.

While the band have not publicly commented on the situation themselves, Rock Feed reported that Adam Ruehmer, manager and marketer for Linkin Park, said prior to the video’s removal: “Please stop engaging with that video. We are aware and taking action.”

This isn’t the first time Linkin Park have taken issue with their music being associated with Trump or his administration. In 2020, the band issued a cease and desist after ‘In The End’, their diamond certified 2000 single, was used in a Trump campaign advertisement without approval. At the time, Linkin Park made their position clear, stating: “Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music. A cease and desist has been issued.”

That response followed a pattern established years earlier by late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington, who was vocal about his political views prior to his death in 2017. Bennington publicly criticised Trump during his presidency, writing on social media: “I repeat…Trump is a greater threat to the USA than terrorism!! We have to take back our voices and stand for what we believe in”.

Artists have increasingly pushed back when their music is used to imply endorsement or align their work with political messaging they do not support, particularly in relation to Donald Trump. Among the long list of artists beyond Linkin Park who have called for their music to be removed from promotional videos or cease use during rallies are Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, Ozzy Osbourne, and Panic! At The Disco.

In this case, no formal statement has been issued by Linkin Park or the White House explaining the removal.