Ariana Grande Takes a Stand Against Trump Administration's Use of Her Music in Political Messaging
Ariana Grande has requested that Donald Trump's team refrain from using her music after one of her popular songs was featured in an anti-transgender TikTok video posted by the Team Trump account. The video shows President Trump walking to a podium while Grande's song "We Can't Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)" plays in the background. This is not the first time Grande has spoken out against the US President, as she has previously expressed her disapproval of his actions. In response to the video, Grande commented directly on the post, stating, "Never use my music again. Also, your truth is false."
Ariana Grande has been a longtime supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community and recently launched The Brighter Days Ahead Foundation, which provides support to vulnerable communities, focusing on LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and reproductive justice. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident involving the use of Grande's music in the video.
The video aligns with the Trump administration's broader campaign against transgender participation in sports. In February 2025, Trump signed an executive order to withdraw funding from education programs that allow transgender women and girls to compete in female sports categories. Trump has previously made derogatory remarks about transgender athletes, emphasizing that men should not compete in women's sports. The administration has also taken steps to implement LGBTQIA+ content warnings on queer television programs and other measures targeting the community.
This is the second time in two months that Ariana Grande has objected to the administration using her music for political messaging. In June, the White House used her song "Bye" in footage depicting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arresting individuals, prompting Grande to express her strong disapproval of the association. Her team successfully had the sound removed from the video following her objection.
In conclusion, Ariana Grande has made it clear that she does not want her music to be used in connection with the Trump administration's political messaging, particularly when it goes against her values and beliefs. Her advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community and her commitment to social justice issues are reflected in her actions to protect her music from being associated with messages that contradict her principles.