The Donald Trump administration has shared an edited version of Drake’s ‘Iceman’ cover, immediately drawing backlash.
The Canadian rap star first started teasing new music just hours before last night’s (May 15) massive drop, which saw Drake catch fans off guard by sharing three full albums – ‘Habibti’, ‘Maid of Honour’, and ‘Iceman’ – with the latter featuring 18 songs with titles including ‘Make Them Cry’, ‘Whisper My Name’, ‘Make Them Pay’ and more.
The same day that Drake shared all three records, the White House shared its own version of the ‘Iceman’ artwork on social media. The original album cover features a man’s hand in a Michael Jackson-style bejewelled glove, but in the White House’s edited version, that same hand holds a chain necklace with a “MAGA” pendant.
The caption, which many fans have decried in the comments, reads: “ICED OUT”. The post’s comment section on X/Twitter has already been flooded with pushback from fans, with one lamenting: “Government officials partaking in rap/pop culture stuff instead of making this country better”.
“While families can’t afford groceries or rent [..] you’re memeing rap album covers like a 14yo edgelord on TikTok,” another agreed. “Priorities are iced out for sure. Delete this and govern.”
Drake has not yet responded to the White House using the album artwork.
Trump’s use of pop culture and music across various campaigns has continued to court controversy. He played songs including ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ and ‘Start Me Up’ during his 2016 rallies, leading The Rolling Stones to follow in the footsteps of Adele, Neil Young, and Steven Tyler to request that he stop.
However, Trump continued to use the music as his campaign continued, and after winning the election and being sworn in as US President in 2017, he walked on stage at his inauguration concert to the band’s 1965 song ‘Heart Of Stone’.
More recently, a source close to Mick Jagger denied that he gave the producers of Melania permission to use ‘Gimme Shelter’ in the documentary. Back in February, producer Marc Beckman claimed he had approved of the song’s use, in contrast to Guns N’ Roses, Grace Jones and Prince’s estate, who all refused.