White House Bad Bunny video uses ‘La Mudanza’ over ICE detentions
The White House TikTok paired Bad Bunny’s “La Mudanza” with Trump and ICE footage, Rolling Stone reported, despite the song’s political meaning.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
The White House Bad Bunny video that hit TikTok on Thursday used part of the Puerto Rican star’s “La Mudanza” while showing President Donald Trump and footage of migrants being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Rolling Stone reported.
The clip appeared on the official White House TikTok account. According to Rolling Stone, on-screen text in the video said, “A round of applause for Donald J Trump because he really crushed it,” before the edit moved from Trump imagery to ICE detention scenes.
Rolling Stone said the wording riffs on lyrics from “La Mudanza,” in which Bad Bunny thanks and praises his parents for having him. Representatives for Bad Bunny did not respond to Rolling Stone’s request for comment.
Why did the White House Bad Bunny video draw criticism?
The backlash centers on the song choice. “La Mudanza” is described by Rolling Stone as one of the most political tracks on Bad Bunny’s album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” with references to Puerto Rican independence symbols and figures.
The song and its video include nods to the pro-independence movement, including activist Eugenio María de Hostos and the light blue Puerto Rican flag, according to Rolling Stone. The outlet also noted a Spanish lyric that translates to: “They killed people for waving the flag, That’s why now I take her everywhere.”
That context made the pairing especially pointed because Bad Bunny has repeatedly spoken against Trump administration immigration policy. Rolling Stone also framed the TikTok as part of a broader run of official White House social posts using popular music in videos about deportations and immigration enforcement.
Puerto Rico has been under U.S. control since 1898, and the island’s political status has long been debated. Bad Bunny, whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has used his recent album cycle to highlight Puerto Rican identity and history, according to Rolling Stone.
What has Bad Bunny said about immigration?
Bad Bunny has made pro-immigrant messages part of several major public moments. Rolling Stone reported that his “Nuevayol” video included a voice resembling Trump’s apologizing to immigrants and saying the United States is “nothing without” immigrants, including Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans and Cubans.
At the 2026 Grammys, Bad Bunny said, “ICE out. We’re not savage. We’re not animals. We’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans,” according to Rolling Stone. He also said love is more powerful than hate.
During his Super Bowl halftime performance, Rolling Stone reported, he displayed a sign reading “the only thing more powerful than hate is love,” then said “God bless America” while naming countries across the Americas as dancers waved their flags.
Bad Bunny also said in 2025 that he was avoiding U.S. dates on his “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” world tour because of concerns that ICE could be outside his concerts, Rolling Stone reported.
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.