Kenny Loggins calls out Donald Trump for using song Danger Zone on AI video

October 21, 2025 – Radio 854 Music News:

What happened?

On 18 October 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video via his social platform Truth Social. The clip depicts Trump wearing a crown, flying a jet emblazoned “KING TRUMP” and ejecting brown sludge onto protesters from the nationwide “No Kings” protests.
Accompanying the visuals: the 1986 hit “Danger Zone”, recorded by Kenny Loggins for Top Gun.

Loggins speaks out

Kenny Loggins issued a clear public statement condemning the video and usage of his performance:

“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.”
He added:
“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. We’re all Americans… It’s all of us. We’re in this together, and it is my hope that we can embrace music as a way of celebrating and uniting.”

Why it matters

• Copyright & consent: Loggins emphasises that the recording was used without permission — a critical reminder about rights in the digital/AI era.

• Music & messaging: A song known for adrenaline and unity (“Danger Zone”) ends up in a video with polarising imagery. The artist objects not just legally, but philosophically.

• AI and politics: The incident spotlights how AI-generated media is increasingly used in political contexts — raising ethical questions.

• Precedent: Loggins joins a growing list of musicians who’ve objected to how their work has been used in political campaigns or messaging.

What comes next at Radio 854?

• We’ll monitor whether the video is removed or modified following Loggins’s demand.

• We’ll follow any legal or copyright-related developments stemming from this.

• We’ll explore the broader implications: how artists are responding to AI-driven content, how copyright law adapts, and how music rights are managed in the era of social media-driven political media.

• Tune in for a special segment where we’ll play “Danger Zone”, discuss its origin (for the film Top Gun) and revisit how it came to become such an iconic track — before its unexpected role in today’s controversy.