Full Breakdown
Ariana Grande Calls Out Trump Campaign for Using Her Song in Anti-Trans TikTok
8/24/2026, 12:30:47 AM
The TikTok Post and Grande’s Response
The Trump campaign posted a TikTok on August 20 featuring Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends” as background to an anti-trans message. After Grande publicly objected, the audio was muted and the post displayed a “This sound isn’t available” notice. Screenshots of the original video circulated before it was hidden.
Prior Use of Grande’s Music by the Administration
In early June, the White House posted a TikTok set to Grande’s “Bye,” showing ICE officers arresting people. The audio was later removed after Grande condemned the video.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 8 | White House TikTok uses “Bye” to promote ICE arrests. |
| June 11 | Grande’s comment condemning the ICE video. |
| August 20 | Trump campaign TikTok uses “We Can’t Be Friends” for anti-trans messaging; Grande posts rebuttal. |
| September 1, 2026 | Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour concludes at London’s O2 Arena. |
Official Statements & Responses
- Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, responded to Grande’s June comment: “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.”
- The White House has not commented on the August 20 TikTok.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reports differ on whether the “We Can’t Be Friends” audio remains on the August 20 video. CBC and Billboard said the sound was removed after Grande’s objection; TheWrap and Variety noted it was still audible at the time of their reporting. The exact timing of any removal is unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Please do not use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” — Ariana Grande
- “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.” — Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson
- “I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports, you’re not gonna see that. You’ll see everything but that,” — Donald Trump
Why It Matters
Grande’s objections illustrate a pattern of the Trump campaign using contemporary pop songs without artists’ consent. Other musicians, including Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, have voiced similar concerns, highlighting tensions between copyright licensing and artists’ control over political use of their work.
What’s Next
Grande is finishing her Eternal Sunshine tour, with the final London show slated for September 1, 2026. Her team continues to seek removal of unauthorized uses, while the White House has yet to issue a formal policy response.
