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Ariana Grande, an American singer, has publicly objected to the Trump administration using one of her songs in a White House social media video about immigration enforcement.
This week, the White House posted a TikTok video showing federal agents arresting and handcuffing people during its immigration crackdown. The video used Grande's 2024 song "Bye."
Grande responded directly in the comments section of the video: "Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense."
When Grande saw that the White House had hidden her comment, she started posting screenshots of it on her own social media accounts.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administration, saying, "What's actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens."
This dispute is the latest example of musicians objecting to their music being used in Trump-related political messaging.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reports that artists like Neil Young, John Fogerty, Phil Collins, Panic! At The Disco, and the estates of Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, and Prince have also objected to similar uses of their music. Some have even taken legal action.
The White House and Trump's communications team often use popular songs in social media videos to promote the administration's policies and activities.
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