Ariana Grande Fires Back at White House for Co-Opting Her Song in ICE Campaign

When a pop star’s catchy track gets hijacked for a political message they fundamentally oppose, things get messy fast. That’s exactly what happened when Ariana Grande discovered the White House had used her song“bye”in a TikTok video celebrating ICE immigration enforcement operations—complete with footage of agents arresting and handcuffing people.

Grande didn’t hold back. She responded directly on the White House’s TikTok post with biting commentary, calling Trump’s immigration policies barbaric, inhumane, and heinous. She punctuated her statement with a final, unmistakable declaration:“f*** ice.”

The video in question, posted Tuesday, framed these arrests as proof that Trump had delivered“the most secure border in history.”For Grande, it was the ultimate betrayal—her music, which carries cultural weight and emotional resonance, weaponized for a cause she actively opposes. This isn’t her first stand on the issue. She wore an“ICE OUT”pin at the 2026 Golden Globes and has repeatedly shared resources with her 363 million Instagram followers, including scripts for reporting ICE activity to senators and information on the NYC Deportation Defense Hotline.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded swiftly, arguing that the real barbarism comes from undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes. The clash reflects a broader cultural divide: what some view as border security, others see as inhumane enforcement. Grande’s public stance mirrors that of Pedro Pascal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Eva Longoria, and Tyler the Creator—all vocal critics of ICE operations.

What’s particularly striking is that Grande’s situation isn’t isolated. Other major artists including Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Rihanna, and Sabrina Carpenter have similarly called out the Trump administration for appropriating their music in promotional material. Not every artist has spoken up, though. Taylor Swift notably remained silent when the White House used her song“The Fate of Ophelia”in a promotional video last year. And then there’s Nicki Minaj, who’s taken the opposite position entirely, voicing support for the administration.

This clash raises a thorny question about artistic ownership and political messaging. Can—or should—artists prevent the government from using their work? And when they do speak out, does their celebrity amplify the message or overshadow the actual policy debate?