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Singer Kenny Loggins criticized President Donald Trump for the alleged “unauthorized use” of his hit song Danger Zone in a viral AI-generated video. The video depicted Trump dropping poop on No Kings protestors.
The viral video appeared to parody the 1986 Tom Cruise blockbuster Top Gun, where Danger Zone famously served as the film’s adrenaline-pumping anthem.
In a statement shared with Variety on Monday, October 20, Loggins made his stance clear, emphasizing that his music was used without his consent and demanding its removal. Explaining his frustration, Loggins said:
“This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’ Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately.”
The musician also expressed deep concern about how music and media were being used to inflame political tensions rather than promote unity.
“I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us. Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together,” he explained.
Continuing on that note, Loggins highlighted his belief in shared national identity and unity.
“We’re all Americans, and we’re all patriotic. There is no ‘us and them’ — that’s not who we are, nor is it what we should be,” he said.
He further added that he hoped people could “embrace music" as a way of "celebrating and uniting" everyone.
What else do we know about Donald Trump’s use of AI-generated video?
Donald Trump was once again at the center of controversy after reposting an AI-generated video depicting him piloting a fighter jet and dumping brown sludge, presumably fecal matter, on protesters. The clip appeared to mock the nationwide No Kings protests that took place over the weekend in opposition to his second presidency.
According to CNN, nearly seven million people participated in the protest, which took place across 2,700 demonstrations, in all 50 U.S. states on Saturday, October 18.
According to The Guardian, the protests were a direct response to the Trump administration and the ongoing government shutdown. As The Guardian reported, the widespread demonstrations reflected “vibrant civil resistance” against what critics described as the administration’s “heavy-handed policies” that undermined long-standing constitutional and legal norms.
The movement gained significant traction, bolstered by celebrity support from figures such as Mark Ruffalo, Jimmy Kimmel, Robert De Niro, and Glenn Close, all of whom publicly voiced opposition to Trump’s leadership.
On the evening of the protest, POTUS reposted the AI-generated video on his social media platform. As described by The Guardian, the clip featured a “sharply orange Trump” wearing a golden crown and flying a plane emblazoned with “King Trump.”
The video quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism for trivializing peaceful protests and promoting authoritarian imagery. Critics argued that it reflected Trump’s tendency to mock dissent while projecting himself as a larger-than-life ruler.
Some Republican figures, however, defended the video as satire. When asked to comment, Vice President JD Vance said he thought “it’s funny.”
“You can negotiate in good faith while also poking a little bit of fun at some of the absurdities of the Democrats’ positions...I’ll tell Hakeem Jeffries right now—I make this solemn promise to you that if you help us reopen the government, the sombrero memes will stop,” Vance said (As per The Guardian).
His reference to “sombrero memes” alluded to an earlier AI-generated deepfake POTUS had shared in October, which falsely depicted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling Democrats “woke pieces of sh*t.” The clip also included a racist caricature of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
This was not the first time POTUS had shared AI-generated media. His social media timeline was filled with doctored clips and memes praising him and his allies while ridiculing his opponents. During his 2024 presidential campaign, he faced criticism for using deepfake videos and synthetic images to amplify support and spread misinformation about rivals.
The broader Republican Party had also embraced AI tools in its digital strategy.
Just a day before POTUS's latest post, the official Senate Republicans' social media account released an attack ad against Schumer. In reference to the government shutdown, the ad featured a deepfake of the senator saying:
“Every day gets better for us.”
As per the latest New York Times report, amidst the government shutdown (which was on its 21st day), Trump stated that he would not meet with the Democratic Senate leader, Chuck Schumer, or other Democrats to negotiate until the government was reopened.
