Ariana Grande publicly told the White House to stop using her music after the Trump administration posted a TikTok video of ICE immigration arrests set to her 2024 song Bye as the soundtrack.
The video was posted on June 9 and showed footage of arrests carried out by immigration agents. Its caption read: “Bye-bye. President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.” Grande responded directly in the comments: “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.”
Her comment drew millions of views and broad public support. The song was eventually stripped from the video’s audio. The White House did not immediately respond to the objection but later issued a statement defending its immigration enforcement record without addressing Grande’s complaint directly.
Grande is not the first artist to object to political use of her music by the Trump administration. Olivia Rodrigo and The Rolling Stones have issued similar demands in previous years. The practice of setting political content to popular music without explicit artist permission has created repeated conflicts between the White House and the music industry.
Most recording artists retain the right to object to political associations with their work under the terms of standard sync and performance licensing agreements. Those clauses exist precisely because political use can imply endorsement that artists have not given.
Music and politics have intersected in several other ways this month. Olivia Rodrigo is tracking for the biggest debut week of her career with a new album. Taylor Swift’s contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. British singer Myles Smith released his debut album My Mess, My Heart, My Life on June 19 to strong reviews and chart activity across the UK and US.
Grande’s eighth studio album, Petal, is scheduled for release on July 31, 2026. It is her first full-length record since Eternal Sunshine in 2024. The lead single, Hate That I Made You Love Me, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May. The White House video episode has kept her name in the news during the album’s pre-release window.
No legal action has been filed by Grande’s team. The matter has remained in the public sphere. Grande’s official site carries full details on the Petal album, release schedule, and upcoming promotional activities.
