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Gracie Abrams and Demi Lovato are calling out Instagram parent company Meta for seemingly hindering their efforts to unfollow President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on the app after Inauguration Day.
Sharing a close-up selfie on her Story Tuesday (Jan. 21) — one day after the politicians were sworn into office — the “That’s So True” singer wrote that she “had to unfollow @vp and @potus three (3) separate times today because @meta kept automatically refollowing the accounts.”
“How curious!” she continued. “Had to block them in order to make sure I am nowhere near that. Sharing in case this is happening to your account as well.”
The Camp Rock alum also spoke out Tuesday. Posting a screenshot of Vance’s profile onto her own Story, Lovato wrote, “I have unfollowed this guy twice today.”
“Shady f–king business meta,” they added.
In a statement posted by Meta’s Andy Stone on Threads Wednesday and shared with Billboard, the company denied that anyone was “made to automatically follow any of the official Facebook or Instagram accounts for the President, Vice President or First Lady.”
“Those accounts are managed by the White House so with a new administration, the content on those Pages changes,” the communications director explained. “This is the same procedure we followed during the last presidential transition. It may take some time for follow and unfollow requests to go through as these accounts change hands.”
Trump and Vance’s administration assumed control over Instagram’s @potus and @vp handles following their swearing-in ceremony Monday (Jan. 20), which marked the start of the twice-impeached billionaire’s second White House term. For the past four years, the accounts were run by the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris administration, which Abrams and Lovato both openly supported.
The two singers had also endorsed Harris‘ 2024 presidential bid, with the former Eras Tour opener performing at one of the former prosecutor’s October rallies in Madison, Wis. After Harris lost the election to Trump on Nov. 5, Lovato shared a message of hope on X, writing, “This was OUR election and WE WON TOGETHER. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but today we will celebrate each other.”
Nearly two months later, Trump is about 48 hours into his second presidency – and he’s hit the ground running. Following a weekend of inauguration festivities – featuring technical-difficulty-ridden performances from Carrie Underwood and Billy Ray Cyrus – the politician has already signed multiple executive actions targeting immigration, delaying the national TikTok ban and pardoning people charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. He’s also reversed dozens of Biden-era orders protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Trump – who was previously banned from Meta’s platforms for two years following the Jan. 6 insurrection – and his team have also been putting his reclaimed @potus account to use. He’s posted on Instagram eight times in the past two days and on Tuesday shared a video of himself signing orders in the Oval Office captioned, “Who’s ready for Day Two? The momentum is unstoppable!”
The American Music Tourism Act, Mitigating Automated Internet Networks (MAIN) for Event Ticketing Act, and Helping Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act have all been re-introduced to the Senate. Recently, the American Music Tourism Act was also re-introduced to Congress. Each year, bills that have not yet passed must be re-introduced to the House and the […]
Grimes had no comment on what many have described as a Nazi-like salute given by her ex, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, during one of Donald Trump’s inaugural events on Monday. The tech titan who has reportedly been given an office in the White House for his newly created Department of Government Efficiency made two rapid, straight-armed hand gestures during the celebration of Trump’s second swearing-in, motions that instantly drew comparisons to the signature “Sieg Heil” salute made by reviled Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
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Seemingly taken aback by the news of the incident involving the father of her three children, Grimes reacted to a fan’s distress over the incident by writing on X, “it is unhealthy that people are this upset when I have not even been online yet today and am only just learning about this controversy now. I don’t know what happened and I will not make a rash statement – I am not a citizen of this country.”
Initially Grimes said she was going to bed and vowed to do her research, but declined to “say something that will create an international scandal,” in response to the fascist-like salute that quickly became just that.
Democratic New York Rep. Jerry Nadler also took to Musk’s X to lament, “I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal,” about the widely circulated video of Musk’s grunting, straight-arm salutes during a speech at D.C.’s Capitol One Arena after Trump’s swearing in. “This abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history. I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism.”
In her post, Grimes pushed back at those who she said appeared willing to cancel her for the seemingly fascist gesture made by her ex, “before [I] even heard it happened.” That said, Grimes made it clear: “I am not him. I will not make a statement every time he does something. I can only send love back into a world that is hurting.”
She added that she appreciated the fans’ concern, but, “in a world stimulated by scandal, I feel a moral imperative to only add to the mess when something positive can be done. Otherwise I’m just adding tot he desensitization. To be clear i could go talk s–t and be on a bunch of magazine covers and be a feminist hero and get clout – but it would serve no purpose. I choose my children’s wellbeing. I promise you it doesn’t feel good to be hated all the time for things I don’t even know about, cannot predict and cannot control. But I also chose this path, I accept it. I make the best of it, and I simply wish happiness and health to all.”
Grimes appeared to quickly have a change of heart, posting a short time later, “I’m happy to denounce Nazi-ism – and the far alt right. Would that help clear things up? I’ve just gotten out of breakfast and have to catch a flight, and am still debating how to approach things diplomatically because I feel in over my head. But if there’s concern about that, I am happy to set the record strait in a meaningful way.”
My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero had a sharper, more succinct response to the two quick chest-thump, straight right arm with palm down movements the ADL describes as a gesture meant to pay homage to Hitler and which since WWII has been used by “neo-Nazis and other white supremacists… making it the most common white supremacist hand sign in the world.”
Iero shared a screenshot of the salute on Instagram and wrote, “F–k this guy and every single person supporting this s–t or wasting any kind of breath attempting to defend it. Your true colors are shining through. #SmashHate.”
Musk re-posted the video, including the Nazi-like salute, on his X feed and after the tide of criticism appeared to react, writing, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler‘ attack is sooo tired [sleeping emoji].” He did not formally denounce Nazism or deny making the gesture associated with Hitler, though he did agree with another tweet that asked, “Can we please retire the calling people a Nazi thing? It didn’t work during the election, it’s not working now, it’s tired, boring, and old material, you’ve burned out its effect, people don’t feel shocked by it anymore, the wolf has been cried too many times.”
In response, Musk wrote, “Yeah exactly [yawning emoji].”
Though Musk, 53, appeared bored with the call-out about what many saw as a white supremacist dog whistle, a number of neo-Nazi leaders shared the clip, according to AFP. The head of an Australian neo-Nazi group reportedly wrote on Telegram, “Donald Trump White Power movement.” In addition, on the neo-Nazi forum Stormfront, another user is said to have posted an image of Musk’s salute along with the phrase “Heil Hitler.”
One of the chapters of the far right Proud Boys militia — whose leader and several members were among the 1,600 people unconditionally pardoned by Trump on Monday for their part in the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 after Trump lost his second bid for the White House — wrote simply, “Hail Trump!”
The co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism told the AFP that, “there is no question among white supremacists that Musk was making a Nazi salute.”
The world’s richest man, who has become a regular presence alongside Trump since donating $277 million to President’s third campaign, was denounced in 2023 when he endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory popular among white supremacists that Jewish communities push “hatred against Whites.”
At the time, Musk shared the original hate post promoting the theory — as well as referencing another antisemitic conspiracy theory about the “hordes of minorities” that are moving to Western countries — and then re-shared it with the comment “you have said the actual truth.” Weeks later, Musk apologized for what he described as his “dumbest” social media post ever before bashing advertisers who had begun leaving X in 2023 because of the rising tide of antisemitism on the platform that Musk bought in 2022.
See Grimes and Iero’s posts below.
While I deeply respect your concern- it is unhealthy that people are this upset when I have not even been online yet today and am only just learning about this controversy now. I don’t know what happened and I will not make a rash statement – I am not a citizen of this country.…— 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌 ⏳ (@Grimezsz) January 21, 2025
I’m happy to denounce Nazi-ism – and the far alt right. Would that help clear things up? I’ve just gotten out of breakfast and have to catch a flight, and am still debating how to approach things diplomatically because I feel in over my head. But if there’s concern about that,…— 𝖦𝗋𝗂𝗆𝖾𝗌 ⏳ (@Grimezsz) January 21, 2025
Clairo is summoning witches and casting spells on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. On Monday (Jan. 20) — the same day Trump was sworn in for his second White House term — the 26-year-old singer/songwriter tweeted a call to action. “Witchcraft on Trump ASAP !” she wrote. It’s not the first time Clairo has expressed opposition […]
Technical issued led to a haphazard Billy Ray Cyrus performance at the Liberty Ball during Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration and on Tuesday (Jan. 21), the star responded to critics. “I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar and monitors worked or not. I was there because President Donald J. […]
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Source: Christopher Furlong / Getty / Elon Musk
Fresh off his Nazi salute (no debate on that), Elon Musk, the billionaire nuisance, will have an office in the White House, according to a report and straight from Felon 47, aka Donald Trump’s mouth.
Yup, you read that nonsense correctly. Musk, the current co-chair of the completely made-up non-governmental organization Department of Government Efficiency, will have West Wing office space in the White House, as seen on Raw Story, according to a report in the New York Times.
Per Raw Story:
Musk, a close confidant of Donald Trump who had notably spent the weeks after Election Day at a $2,000 a night cottage at the president’s Mar-a-Lago golf resort, was expected to work out of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, The New York Times reported Monday.
That would have placed him inside the White House complex, but not exactly in the West Wing itself, the publication added.
The development comes as the world’s richest man spent “many days asking about his level of access, signaling a desire for proximity to Mr. Trump, according to the people,” according to the Times report, which cited conversations with two people familiar with the planning.
According to the New York Times, “Mr. Trump had wanted Mr. Musk to have the space, one of the people said. Mr. Musk has been given a badge for the White House complex and filled out paperwork to be brought onboard for the role.”
Bruh.
Trump signs an order creating the Department of Governmental Efficiency
Doocy: Is Elon Musk getting a West Wing office? pic.twitter.com/kqxUGKXyWd
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 21, 2025
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DOGE Is Off To Very Non-Efficient Start
The agency, which Trump announced during the campaign, isn’t running efficiently. Word on the political streets is that DOGE’s other co-chair, Vivek Ramaswamy, is out as co-chair and has his sights on Ohio’s Governor’s seat. The seat will soon be vacated by the current Governor, Mike DeWine, who can no longer hold it due to term limits.
According to Politico, it was Musk himself who also wanted Ramaswamy out and accomplished his goal thanks to the failed Republican presidential candidates’ rant about H-1B visas where he called MAGA’s most prominent supporters, White folks, L A Z Y.
Musk and DOGE also look foolish after promising to slash at least $2 trillion from federal spending. DOGE was hit with a lawsuit, claiming it violates federal transparency rules on disclosure, hiring, and other practices.
Social media has thoughts on the matter; spoiler alert, they had nothing nice to say.
You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
1. Exactly
2. Yeah congress how do you feel aboput this?
3. Interesting
4. He probably won’t have to do anything because there is no accountability anymore
7. Sounds like waste to us too.
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Donald J. Trump, the former reality star and real estate “mogul” has once again been inaugurated as the president of the United States. While millions of Americans celebrated, others were wary and braced for another four years of chaos that accompanied the last Trump presidency.
But, for the Hip-Hop community, one of the biggest surprises of the inauguration festivities was how many rap stars lined up to perform for Trump.
Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Nelly, and Soulja Boy performed at Trump’s Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C., on Friday earning backlash on social media. Many commenters compared the rappers’ performances to that of singer Chrisette Michele who performed for Trump in 2017 and was quickly shunned by the Black community, leading to the unravelling of her career.
Nelly justified his performance with an appearance on the Willie D Podcast on Saturday, per HuffPost. The 50-year-old St. Lunatic told the Geto Boys rapper, “it’s an honor” to “perform for the president of the United States, regardless of who is in office.”
He added, “If President Biden would have asked me to perform, I would have performed. If Vice President Kamala Harris would have won and asked me to perform, I would have performed.”
Nelly did mention that Trump, who is known for racist remarks and actions dating back to the 1970s, has “some f*cked up ways,” adding, that “performing for somebody and voting for somebody is two different things.”
Clips online have emerged of Nelly starting his set with “Hail to the Chief” and performing his hit single, “Country Grammar.”
The rapper says that he comes from a military family and compared his performance to the experience of American soldiers saying, “I’m not doing this for money, I’m doing this because it’s an honor. I respect the office. It doesn’t matter who is in office,” he said. “The same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever is in office.”
However, the backlash to the rapper performing for Trump has been swift.
Polls show that 92% of Black women voted for Kamala Harris for president in 2024 while Trump saw an increase in his support from Black men according to the Associated Press with about 3 in 10 Black men under the age of 45 went for Trump, roughly double the number he got in 2020.
The show must go on! Carrie Underwood proved why she’s a country superstar during Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Monday (Jan. 20).
After an awkward two-minute technical glitch, the 41-year-old American Idol alum took control of the situation, singing “America the Beautiful” a cappella at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., just as Trump was being sworn in as the 47th president.
“You know the words, help me out here,” Underwood told the crowd before delivering the patriotic anthem solo.
An earlier program indicated Underwood was scheduled to perform with the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club, with her performance originally slated just before Trump’s swearing-in.
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The country star’s fans quickly took notice of her professionalism and praised her stunning solo rendition on social media.
“Now that is a flex. Imagine being so talented that when technology fails, you just go, ‘Fine, I’ll do it live!’ and crush it a cappella in front of thousands,” one user on X observed. “Carrie Underwood doesn’t need auto-tune; auto-tune probably takes notes from her.”
Another wrote, “Carrie Underwood don’t need no band! That was bada–!”
“This is what a professional looks like,” a third commenter noted on X. “With grace, when the military band audio failed, she sang her song with the audience. All American and perfect.”
Before the event, Underwood shared a statement expressing her gratitude and pride: “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Underwood joined a roster of performers at the inauguration, including Lee Greenwood, the Village People, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Aldean and Parker McCollum.
Carrie Underwood was among the performers during the presidential inauguration ceremony held for Donald Trump, which took place at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday (Jan. 20).
The country superstar’s performance took place after Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States and made his inauguration speech, beginning his second presidential term.
Technical difficulties delayed Underwood’s performance, causing the singer to stand for two minutes near the podium prior to her performance. An early program showed that Underwood had been slated to perform with the The Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club, and that she had initially been set to perform just prior to Trump’s swearing-in.
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Instead, Underwood — clad in a pale-colored dress — performed a rendition of “America the Beautiful” a cappella. “If you know the words help me out here,” the singer said before her performance, with the audience joining in to sing with her.
Prior to her performance, Underwood released a statement regarding her performance, saying, “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event. I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Underwood joins a slate of performers who are taking part in presidential inauguration events, including Lee Greenwood, the Village People, Nelly, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Aldean and Parker McCollum.
News of Underwood’s performance at Trump’s inauguration ceremony was met with both praise and criticism, with LGBTQ+ fans expressing anger and disappointment with the country singer’s decision to perform during the event. Underwood had previously spoken out in support of same-sex marriage in 2012, prior to same-sex marriage being legalized in 2015. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have expressed disapproval with the singer for performing at the event, given that Trump has campaigned for restrictions on trans and queer rights in the United States.
Underwood recently revealed the trailer for her upcoming concert special Carrie Underwood: Reflection, which spotlights her long-running Las Vegas residency. The concert special debuts Friday (Jan. 24), on Disney+ and Hulu. She is set to conclude her Las Vegas run on April 12. Her most recent country album, 2022’s Denim & Rhinestones, reached No. 2 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart and became her 10th consecutive album to reach the top 10 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
See Underwood’s performance here.
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President Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday (Jan. 20) and the spectacle of the inauguration has concluded with many in the media offering their observations On X, President Donald Trump’s rambling and sometimes unfocused acceptance speech was dissected at great lengths with some pointing out the fallacies and falsehoods spewed from the pulpit.
President Donald Trump spoke at length from inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, using the moment to essentially echo many of his campaign talking points to raucous applause from his subordinates and supporters. It was more of the same tough talk and bluster most have come to expect, and there were soft lobs toward Black and Hispanic communities coupled with promises of cleaning up the crime in cities across the nation.
Trump also promised to tap into natural resources on the domestic level despite the threat to the climate it poses and wants to transform America into a manufacturing giant once more. He also made appeals to the auto industry and directed domestic companies to ramp up production. There were also the long-existing threats of tariffs against other nations and the promise of eliminating the cost to American citizens.
In a bizarre moment, Trump went back to his desire to rename the Panama Canal and said that the country “broke its promises” to America. He also used this moment to take a direct swipe at China, saying that he intends to snatch the canal back from the rival superpower.
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell’s passionate prayer in support of Trump also garnered some responses given the dramatic histrionics on display and the religious leader evoking Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Free At Last” speech inappropriately. It was, in a word, “something.”
Like much of Trump’s presidential campaign, the unchecked bravado of the former business mogul was on full display with a full-throated embrace from those in attendance who applauded nearly every word. However, how these plans are expected to move forward was not illustrated in any visible detail. Trump also circled and repeated his points, appearing to speak off script and barely spoke to the concerns of average Americans and largely aimed his words at his rabid base. There was also an unnecessary jab at the LBGTBQ community, in particular regarding gender presentation.
On X, users are chiming in regarding the inauguration of President Donald Trump and dissecting his words and a higher level than legacy media would ever dare. Check out those reactions below.
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Photo: Getty
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