Pop superstar Ariana Grande has criticized the White House after it used her song Bye in a social media video promoting the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The controversy began when the White House shared a TikTok video featuring immigration officers detaining individuals at the US border. The clip used Grande’s 2024 hit song Bye as its soundtrack and included the caption: “Bye-bye… President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.”
However, the singer quickly made her position clear.
Ariana Grande Responds Strongly
After seeing the video, Grande commented directly on the post.
She wrote, “Please do not use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.”
Her response quickly gained attention online and sparked debate across social media platforms.
Soon afterward, users noticed that the White House had muted the video and removed Grande’s comment. Many social media users then began discussing the deletion and questioning the decision.
White House Defends Its Position
The White House did not back down from its immigration policies.
Responding to the criticism, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administration’s actions.
According to Jackson, the real issue is not immigration enforcement but crimes committed by individuals who entered the country illegally.
The administration continues to argue that stricter border controls are necessary for national security and public safety.
Video Promoted Trump’s Border Policies
The TikTok clip was posted shortly after President Donald Trump signed legislation providing more than $70 billion in funding for immigration agencies over the remainder of his term.
The video showed border agents placing people in handcuffs, escorting them into vehicles, and transferring them to detention facilities.
The administration presented the footage as evidence of what it describes as stronger border security measures.
Not the First Artist to Object
Grande is far from the only musician to oppose the use of her music in political messaging linked to Trump.
Last year, Sabrina Carpenter publicly criticized the White House after a clip used part of her song Juno in a video highlighting immigration enforcement operations.
She stated that neither she nor her music should be associated with policies she considered inhumane.
Similarly, during the 2024 election campaign, several major artists objected to the use of their music at Trump events.
Those artists included ABBA, Celine Dion, and Beyonce, all of whom asked that their songs not be used in campaign rallies or promotional materials.
Growing Debate Over Political Use of Music
The latest dispute highlights an ongoing issue between political organizations and artists over the use of copyrighted music in campaign content and government messaging.
While public figures often seek popular songs to strengthen their messaging, many artists argue that such use can create the impression that they support policies or political positions they do not endorse.
In Ariana Grande’s case, the singer made it clear that she does not want her music connected to immigration enforcement content and strongly rejected the message conveyed in the White House video.