In brief
Ariana Grande publicly told the White House not to feature her song "Bye" in a TikTok reel that promoted the administration’s immigration campaign. The clip showed ICE agents handcuffing migrants and has sparked backlash from artists across the political spectrum. Grande’s statement followed a broader campaign by musicians insisting their music not be used to endorse the Trump administration’s policies. Lawmakers recently passed a $70 bn funding package for immigration agencies, providing further context to the controversy.
Do not use my music, Ariana Grande tells White House
Pop star Ariana Grande has officially asked the White House not to use her 2024 hit “Bye” in videos or advertisements. The request came after a TikTok reel, shared Monday, paired the track with a montage of ICE agents handcuffing migrants, with the caption: “Bye‑bye… President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history”.
Grandes comment on the post was: “Please do not use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” The clip was later muted, and the artist’s caption removed, but users noted the sudden absence of her voice.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded that the real danger lies with “criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.” The video was part of a campaign following the Senate’s approval of a $70 bn (approx £52 bn) funding package for immigration agencies for the remaining two and a half years of President Trump’s term.
Grande’s stance joins a growing list of musicians who have denied the Trump administration use of their music. In 2023, Sabrina Carpenter demanded her song “Juno” not be used in a White House ICE compilation, while artists such as ABBA, Céline Dion and Beyoncé opposed the campaign’s use of their work in 2024 rallies.
