Ariana Grande Slams White House for Using Her Song in ICE Arrest Video as Artist Backlash Grows

Ariana Grande has publicly criticized the White House and President Donald Trump after one of her songs was used in a social media video promoting immigration enforcement operations. The dispute is the latest in a growing wave of artists speaking out against the Trump administration's use of popular music in official government content.

Ariana Grande Condemns White House Use of ‘Bye’ in ICE Video

The controversy began when the official White House TikTok account posted a video featuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents carrying out arrests and detentions. The video used Grande's 2024 hit song "Bye" as background music.

Grande responded directly in the comments, making it clear she did not support the message or the use of her music.

"Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense," the singer wrote. She later ended her response with a blunt criticism of ICE.

The White House post promoted the administration's immigration policies and claimed that President Trump had delivered "the most secure border in history."

White House Defends Immigration Enforcement

Responding to the criticism, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the administration's position.

"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," Jackson told TMZ.

The administration has continued to highlight immigration enforcement efforts across its social media channels, frequently pairing videos with recognizable songs from major artists.

Ariana Grande's History of Opposition to ICE

Grande has previously voiced opposition to ICE policies and deportation efforts.

During the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, she was photographed wearing an "ICE OUT" pin. She has also used her social media platforms to share immigration advocacy resources with her hundreds of millions of followers, including information about deportation defense organizations and scripts for contacting elected officials regarding immigration enforcement concerns.

Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, and Other Artists Push Back

Grande is not the only musician to object to the administration's use of popular music.

Sabrina Carpenter

Carpenter criticized an official immigration enforcement video that featured audio containing her voice.

The singer wrote on X that the video was "evil and disgusting" and added, "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda."

Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo objected after the Department of Homeland Security and White House accounts shared an immigration-related video set to her song "All-American Bitch."

She commented, "don't ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda."

The video's audio was later reportedly muted following copyright complaints.

Kesha

Kesha also condemned the administration after her song "Blow" was used in a military-themed TikTok video featuring fighter jets and airstrike footage.

She accused the administration of using her music to "incite violence and threaten war," later posting, "stop using my music perverts."

Jack White

Rock musician Jack White has repeatedly warned government officials against using his music. After one of his songs appeared in a U.S. Border Patrol promotional video, White publicly criticized the administration and renewed his objections to the use of his work.

SZA

Singer SZA also addressed the issue after her music appeared in an ICE-related social media post.

She accused the White House of using artists for attention, writing, "White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK ..inhumanity +shock and aw tactics ..Evil n Boring."

Additional Music Copyright Disputes

Several other artists and rights holders have also challenged the administration's use of their music.

• Semisonic criticized the use of its hit song "Closing Time" in a deportation-themed video, arguing that the song's message had been misunderstood.

• Tom Petty's estate reportedly issued a cease-and-desist notice after "I Won't Back Down" appeared in a Department of Homeland Security video, resulting in the audio being removed.

• Jess Glynne said she felt "sick" and "devastated" after her song "Hold My Hand" was featured in border enforcement content.

Growing Debate Over Music Use in Government Social Media

The dispute highlights a broader debate about the use of copyrighted music in political and government messaging. While public officials increasingly rely on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X to reach audiences, many artists have argued that the use of their music can create the false impression that they support a particular political agenda.

As immigration enforcement remains a central issue for the Trump administration, conflicts between government agencies and high-profile musicians are likely to continue, with artists increasingly speaking out when their work is used in official content without their approval.