White House Under Fire for Using Unreleased Boards of Canada Track in Promo Video

The White House recently sparked controversy by using an unreleased track from electronic duo Boards of Canada, "Deep Time", in a promotional video. The 15-second clip was posted on May 28 by the Trump administration’s official account on X, featuring music from Boards of Canada’s upcoming album Inferno, which was set for release on May 29. The comment section quickly filled with fans criticizing the White House for using the music in what they called "authoritarian fascist propaganda" and "fake patriotic edits," while also questioning the legality of the unauthorized use.

In response, Warp Records, the label representing Boards of Canada, issued a statement to Resident Advisor making it clear that neither the label nor the band endorses the unauthorized use of their music for political messaging. The White House has not yet commented on the licensing issue. Boards of Canada had not released new work in 13 years, and Inferno was intended as a comeback album scheduled to drop the day after the video was posted. The controversy may now affect how fans view the new release.

From an industry perspective, this is not the first time a government agency has used copyrighted music without permission in promotional materials. However, Boards of Canada has long maintained a deliberate distance from political messaging. This incident highlights a deep disconnect between government institutions and independent musicians regarding copyright awareness and creative intent. As the new album officially drops, public attention around "Deep Time" is likely to continue to build.