Katy Perry Unleashes Firestorm Over Trump's 'Firework' Use in Military Video
Katy Perry has condemned the White House for the unauthorized use of her song "Firework" in a TikTok video depicting military strikes. She expressed her profound anger, stating the song's message of hope and strength was violated by its use for violence and destruction. This incident highlights a recurring issue where artists criticize administrations for using their music without permission.
Pop superstar Katy Perry has publicly condemned the White House for its unauthorized use of her renowned hit song “Firework.” On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the 41-year-old artist took to social media platform X to express her outrage after the White House’s official TikTok account featured her 2010 anthem as a backing track for a video showcasing military strikes.
The controversial TikTok post, which surfaced earlier in the week, synchronized the powerful "boom, boom, boom" lyrics from Perry's song with black-and-white footage of bombings. The video was accompanied by the caption, “Iran has been warned.” Perry's strong reaction highlighted her deep disapproval of this usage.
In her statement on X, Perry explicitly wrote, "I am deeply appalled and angry to see ‘Firework’ used on the @WhiteHouse TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes. I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it." She went on to elaborate on the profound personal significance of the song, which was intended as "an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments."
Perry emphasized that witnessing her message of self-worth and upliftment "weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence" constituted "a complete violation of everything my song stands for." She concluded her passionate statement by asserting, "My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare."
Released as the third single from her 2010 album Teenage Dream, “Firework” achieved massive success, spending four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, solidifying its place as one of her most iconic tracks.
Perry's condemnation adds her voice to a growing list of artists who have criticized various administrations, including the Trump administration, for the unauthorized inclusion of their music in political videos and at campaign rallies. For instance, in June, artist Ariana Grande publicly criticized the White House for using her 2024 song “Bye” in a TikTok video promoting the arrests made by ICE agents. Similarly, earlier in the same year, Kesha also voiced her disapproval after her song “Blow” was used without authorization in a TikTok video featuring fighter jets and military strike footage, captioned “Lethality,” a post attributed to the Trump administration.