Ariana Grande fumes after White House uses her song in 'barbaric' ICE arrest video

The White House shared a video featuring Grande's song 'bye' alongside footage of immigration enforcement operations
Ariana Grande condemned the use of her music in connection with immigration arrests and deportation efforts (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic, Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Ariana Grande condemned the use of her music in connection with immigration arrests and deportation efforts (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic, Samuel Corum/Getty Images)


LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ariana Grande made sure she did not stay quiet when it came to the use of her music in promotional videos linked to President Donald Trump's administration. 

The singer's track ‘Bye’ was used in several videos featuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, and Grande did not hold back, calling it "heinous nonsense." She made it clear that she does not want her music associated with political messaging.

Grande is not the first artist to speak out. Back in December, Sabrina Carpenter responded after a video shared by the Trump administration promoting ICE arrests used her song ‘Juno.’ SZA also voiced her concerns over the use of artists' music in similar political content.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 26:  Ariana Grande attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staple
Ariana Grande attends the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on January 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Ariana Grande slams White House for using her song 'Bye' in ICE Enforcement video

The controversy began when the White House shared a TikTok video showing ICE officers and other federal agents carrying out arrests. The clip was set to Grande's 2024 song "Bye," a track from her album Eternal Sunshine.

Grande reacted in the comments section, making her feelings clear. "Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense," she wrote. The song appeared to have been removed from the video, and Grande's comment was no longer visible in the comment section.

Ariana Grande's comment on the White House's TikTok on June 11 (@people/x)
Ariana Grande's comment on the White House's TikTok on June 11 (@people/x)

Following her response, the song was muted in the video. According to reports from Reuters and Variety, Grande's team also looked into ways to have the music removed from the post. The singer joins a growing list of artists who have objected to their music being used in political or government-related content without their approval.

White House responds after Ariana Grande criticizes use of her song in ICE Video

The White House were quick to push back after Grande spoke out against her song being used in a government ICE-related video.

Spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administration and said, “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.”

This isn’t the first time Grande has clashed, even indirectly, with the Trump administration. In September 2025, she shared a post on Instagram that criticized ICE raids and what she described as anti-transgender rhetoric.

At the time, White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai responded in a statement to Entertainment Weekly, saying, “Save your tears, Ariana. Because President Trump’s actions ended Joe Biden’s inflation crisis and are bringing in trillions in new investment.”

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