Ariana Grande Joins the Long List of Artists Telling Trump to Stop Using Their Tracks to Glamorize Mass Deportations
Ariana Grande just called out the White House for using her song Bye on TikTok glorifying ICE arrests. According to PEOPLE, on June 11, 2026, the pop star left a blunt comment under the video, writing, “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. f**k ice.” The track was muted shortly after her message went viral, but not before Grande made sure her stance was impossible to ignore.
The video posted by the White House on June 9, featured clips of ICE officers detaining people set to Grande’s song. The caption boasted, “Bye-bye ? President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history,” a line that clearly referenced the lyrics of Bye. Grande didn’t just stop at one comment, though. Complex reported that she spammed the video’s comment section with the same message repeatedly, ensuring her objection stood out.
Fans quickly shared screenshots and screen recordings of the exchange. They praised her for taking a public stand against the administration’s use of her music.
Other artists have also pushed back against the use of their songs in propaganda videos
In December, Sabrina Carpenter called out the administration after they used her track Juno in a video promoting ICE arrests. The White House account wrote, “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,” referencing a lyric from the song. Carpenter fired back, calling the video “evil and disgusting” and demanding her music never be tied to their “inhumane agenda” again.
SZA also weighed in that same month after the White House used her Big Boys parody from Saturday Night Live in a video showing ICE agents detaining people. The caption read, “WE HEARD IT’S CUFFING SZN. Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America.” SZA’s response was sharp, calling the tactic “rage baiting” and slamming it as “inhumanity + shock and awe tactics.”
Olivia Rodrigo faced a similar situation in November when the White House used her song All-American B***h in a video of ICE agents making arrests. The caption warned, “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.” Rodrigo said that seeing her music used in that context was “deeply disturbing.”
She added, “The fact it was my song in there made me feel even more enraged. What they’re doing is so awful and barbaric and cruel. I am really sad to be in a country that thinks that’s OK.”
Kenny Loggins also demanded his music be removed after Trump posted an AI-generated video of himself flying a jet while dumping brown sludge over protesters, set to “Danger Zone.” Loggins made it clear his songs were not to be used for “racist, hateful propaganda.”
Grande’s objection isn’t just a one-time reaction, either
She’s been vocal about immigration issues for years, often using her platform to support immigration rights organizations. Earlier this year, she wore an “ICE OUT” pin during a public appearance at the Golden Globe Awards, a clear statement of her stance. This was in the wake of heightened tensions following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis.
While Trump had defended the killing, local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, called it avoidable. Frey didn’t mince words during a press conference, saying, “They are already trying to spin this as an act of self-defense. Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly – that is b******t.” Frey also demanded that ICE leave the area immediately, underscoring the growing frustration with the agency’s actions.
The White House’s decision to use artists’ music in these videos seems like a deliberate strategy to grab attention, but it’s backfiring. Instead of rallying support, it’s alienating the very creators whose work they’re exploiting.
Grande’s repeated comments under the TikTok video made it clear she wasn’t just making a statement for show. She wanted to ensure her message was heard loud and clear, and the removal of her song from the video suggests the White House got the point. Whether this will deter them from using other artists’ music in the future remains to be seen.
The White House’s TikTok account has become a hotspot for these kinds of videos
The responses from artists show just how uncomfortable many are with their work being tied to these messages. For fans, it’s a reminder that musicians aren’t just passive creators. Many are deeply engaged with the issues shaping the world, and they’re not afraid to speak up when they see something they disagree with.
Grande’s actions also highlight the power of social media as a tool for holding institutions accountable. By flooding the comments section, she turned a single post into a conversation about the ethics of using music in political propaganda.
It’s a tactic that’s becoming more common as artists realize the impact their voices can have. Whether it’s through public statements, social media call-outs, or even legal action, musicians are finding ways to push back against the misuse of their work.
(Featured image: Emma)
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
