Pop star Ariana Grande has publicly criticized President Donald Trump's administration following the use of her 2024 song "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" in a TikTok video posted by the White House social media team. The video, which promoted the administration's position on "transgender" issues, featured text asserting that men cannot become pregnant and should not compete in women's sports, accompanied by the caption, "This shouldn’t be controversial!"
"Never use my music again. Also, your truth is false." — Ariana Grande, Pop Star
Grande responded swiftly in the comments section of the post, demanding that the administration cease using her copyrighted work. "Never use my music again," Grande wrote, adding, "Also, your truth is false." This incident marks the latest in a series of public disagreements between the Grammy Award-winning artist and the Trump administration regarding the unauthorized use of her music in political content.
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between artists and political campaigns over intellectual property rights and the perceived endorsement implied by music usage. The administration's TikTok video, which was shared on social media platforms, aimed to disseminate its policy stance on biological sex and gender identity, issues that President Trump has frequently emphasized since returning to the White House. The video integrated popular music and cultural references, a common tactic for political messaging on platforms like TikTok.
This is not the first time Grande has voiced strong objections to the Trump administration's use of her music. In June, President Trump's social media team utilized Grande's song "Bye" in a video depicting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting arrests. Grande responded vehemently at the time, condemning the association of her music with the administration's immigration enforcement activities. "Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense," Grande stated, reportedly adding an expletive directed at ICE. The audio from that particular video was subsequently removed.
Grande has a history of political engagement, having supported former Vice President Kamala Harris during her presidential campaign and performing at the White House in 2014 under former President Barack Obama's administration. Her current "Eternal Sunshine Tour" is nearing its conclusion.
The pop star is not alone in her opposition to the Trump administration's use of her creative work. Other prominent musicians have also expressed their disapproval. Singer Sabrina Carpenter, for instance, criticized the White House last year after her song "Juno" appeared in a video highlighting ICE operations. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda," Carpenter wrote in response to that incident. Over the years, numerous other artists, including ABBA, Céline Dion, and Beyoncé, have publicly pushed back against the Trump campaign over the use of their music during various political events and campaigns.
The repeated clashes underscore a broader pattern of entertainers and political campaigns grappling with the complexities of copyright law and artistic control in the digital age. As political entities increasingly leverage social media and popular culture to reach audiences, the question of consent and perceived endorsement from artists becomes a focal point. While campaigns often argue for fair use or public domain rights, artists frequently assert their moral and legal rights to prevent their work from being associated with messages or causes they do not support. The legal landscape surrounding such uses remains a subject of ongoing debate, balancing free speech considerations with intellectual property protections. Grande's latest objection serves as another high-profile example of this persistent cultural and legal friction.
