Ariana Grande attacks the White House for using her song “Bye”
The singer called the publication "barbaric, inhuman and atrocious," while the administration defended its action, according to Variety
The renowned singer Ariana Grande launched harsh criticism against the White House for using a fragment of her song “Bye” (2024) in a TikTok video. The post showed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arresting and handcuffing several people.
Grande reacted directly in the post earlier this week, demanding the government stop using her music. “Please never use my music in connection with this barbaric, inhumane and atrocious nonsense,” he wrote in a comment, as reported by Reuters.
On the other hand, a spokesperson for the artist confirmed to Variety that Grande did indeed make that comment, although “for some reason it is not publicly visible” on the platform. The singer's team also managed to remove the audio from the video, which was removed shortly after she posted her message.
White House Response
In a statement shared with Variety, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded firmly: “We will say this one last time: What is truly barbaric, inhumane and atrocious are the criminal illegal immigrants who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.”
This is not the first time Grande has spoken out against the Trump administration. In September 2025, the artist shared a post on Instagram that criticized ICE raids, the government's transphobic rhetoric, and other “threats to democracy.” That message was originally written by activist Matt Bernstein.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai also addressed the singer using a pun on her song titles. "Hold your tears, Ariana. Because President Trump's actions ended Joe Biden's inflation crisis and are generating millions in new investments," Desai declared.
"He even magically signed an executive order that paved the way for the FTC to take action against Ticketmaster for scamming Ariana Grande fans attending concerts. Get well soon, Ariana!"
Grande previously supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election and performed for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the “In Performance at the White House: Women of Soul” event in 2014.