The war of words between the White House and rock musician **Jack White** has escalated, after **Steven Cheung**, the communications director for President Donald Trump, labelled the former White Stripes frontman a “washed up, has-been loser” in response to a scathing social media post.
Earlier this week, White took to **Instagram** to mock the interior of the **Oval Office**, where Trump was pictured welcoming international leaders including **Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy** and **UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer**. The photo, widely circulated online, prompted White to unleash a fierce critique of both Trump’s taste and his leadership.
> “Look at how disgusting Trump has transformed the historic White House,” White wrote in the post, which quickly amassed over **150,000 likes**. “It’s now a vulgar, gold-leafed and gaudy, professional wrestler’s dressing room. Can’t wait for the UFC match on the front lawn too — he’s almost fully achieved the movie *Idiocracy*.”
The Grammy-winning musician didn’t stop there. In his caption, he described Trump as “an embarrassment to American history,” questioning, *“Would you even buy a used car from this conman, let alone give him the nuclear codes?”* White also praised Zelenskyy, writing: *“Also pictured in this photograph, a REAL leader of a nation in a black suit.”*
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White House Response
The criticism clearly struck a nerve inside Washington. Responding via **The Daily Beast**, Cheung hit back hard, dismissing White’s comments and taking aim at his career.
> “Jack White is a washed up, has-been loser posting drivel on social media because he clearly has ample time on his hands due to his stalled career,” Cheung said.
He went further, defending the appearance of the Oval Office under Trump and accusing White of disrespecting its importance.
> “It’s apparent he’s been masquerading as a real artist, because he fails to appreciate, and quite frankly disrespects, the splendor and significance of the Oval Office inside of *The People’s House*,” Cheung continued.
A Long-Standing Feud
This is not the first time White has directed his ire at Trump. Following Trump’s **election victory in 2024**, the rocker branded him an “obvious fascist,” warning that the U.S. was about to endure the full force of his policies.
Earlier this year, White also incorporated anti-Trump sentiment into his live shows, altering lyrics to his 2018 song *Corporation* to reference Trump’s political partnership with **Elon Musk**. In June, after their relationship soured, he publicly mocked the collapse of the alliance.
White has long used his platform to speak out against political figures, often blending his musical performances with pointed social commentary. However, this latest clash with the White House marks one of the most direct confrontations yet between the musician and the Trump administration.
Fans and Fallout
White’s Instagram post has sparked widespread discussion among his fanbase and political observers alike. Many applauded his boldness, with thousands of comments echoing his disdain for Trump’s design choices and leadership style. Others criticized him for once again bringing partisan politics into his music persona, arguing that it risks alienating fans who prefer to separate art from politics.
For the White House, however, the priority seems clear: shutting down any narrative that undermines Trump’s image, particularly as he attempts to present himself as a statesman on the international stage. By framing White as irrelevant and “washed up,” Cheung’s remarks seek to dismiss his criticism as nothing more than noise from a fading cultural figure.
The spat between Jack White and the Trump White House underlines how politics and popular culture continue to collide in the U.S. While White positions himself as a voice of dissent, unafraid to use his platform to criticize power, the administration has shown it is just as willing to retaliate — and in harsh terms.
With White continuing to fire off sharp critiques and the White House responding with equally sharp dismissals, this feud shows no signs of cooling. What remains clear is that, in today’s climate, the battle for public opinion is being fought as much on Instagram and in the headlines as it is in the halls of power.
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