Pop star Ariana Grande has told the White House to stop using her music in videos promoting President Donald Trump’s policies after one of her songs was featured in a social media post highlighting immigration enforcement actions.
The dispute began after the White House shared a video on TikTok this week showcasing its immigration policy. The video, which showed federal agents arresting and handcuffing people, used Grande’s 2024 song “Bye” as its soundtrack.
“Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense,” Grande wrote in a comment on the White House TikTok post on Thursday.
A source close to the singer said her team was seeking to have the music removed from the video as quickly as possible.
The White House responded sharply to Grande’s criticism. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said: “We’ll say this one last time: what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.”
Grande, a Grammy Award-winning singer and Academy Award-nominated actress, has previously criticised the Trump administration. Last year, she shared an Instagram post asking voters whether their lives had improved since Trump returned to office.
The White House and Trump’s communications team frequently use popular songs in short social media videos promoting administration policies and actions. Recent posts have highlighted immigration enforcement operations, US military action against Iran and the arrest of former Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
The incident adds Grande to a growing list of musicians who have objected to the use of their music in politically charged content associated with the Trump administration.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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