On June 11, pop singer Ariana Grande challenged the White House over its use of one of her songs in a government social media post, asking the administration to cease using her music to promote policy positions.
The dispute centers on a short video posted earlier this week on TikTok by members of the White House communications team. The clip, which highlights the administration's immigration policy, includes footage of federal agents arresting and handcuffing people and is set to Grande's 2024 song "Bye."
Responding directly on the TikTok post on Thursday, Grande wrote: "Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense." Her comment was attached to the White House video on the platform.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the singer's complaint or the music's use in the video.
A source close to Grande told reporters that her team is exploring options to remove the music from the TikTok clip as soon as possible. That effort reflects concern from the artist and her representatives about the association of her work with the imagery and messaging in the post.
Grande, who is both a singer and an Academy Award-nominated actress, has previously voiced criticism of the current administration. Last year she shared an Instagram post that asked people who voted for President Trump whether their lives had improved since his return to office.
President Trump, now in his second non-consecutive term, maintains an active presence on social media. Members of his communications team frequently publish short videos that pair popular songs with visuals intended to illustrate the president's policy actions and campaign promises. Previous clips have used well-known tracks alongside images related to the administration's immigration enforcement, U.S. military actions involving Iran and the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
This episode highlights an ongoing tension between public figures and political communicators over the use of commercial music in political messaging on social platforms.