American pop star Ariana Grande has urged the U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to refrain from utilizing her music to endorse its policies. This request followed the White House sharing a TikTok video showcasing its immigration stance earlier this week. The video, portraying federal agents detaining individuals, features Grande’s 2024 track “Bye,” which is a Grammy Award-winning song.
Expressing her discontent, Grande posted a comment on the White House video on TikTok, stating, “Please refrain from associating my music with this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” In response, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the video, emphasizing that the real barbarity lies in the actions of criminal illegal aliens who have harmed innocent American citizens.
A close source to Grande mentioned that her team is actively exploring options to remove the music from the video promptly. Grande, known for her singing and an Academy Award-nominated acting career, had previously criticized the administration through social media interactions.
This incident is not an isolated case, as multiple artists, including Neil Young, John Fogerty, Phil Collins, Panic! At The Disco, and the estates of Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, and Prince, have objected to the unauthorized use of their music by the Trump administration. Some have even resorted to legal action to prevent such usage.
President Trump, now in his second non-consecutive term, maintains an active presence on social media platforms. His communication team frequently shares short videos featuring popular songs to underscore the president’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign pledges. These videos often depict Trump’s policies, including immigration enforcement and military actions against various nations.