Pop star Katy Perry has criticised the Trump administration after the White House used her 2010 hit Firework in a TikTok video featuring footage of military strikes. According to Variety, the video appeared on the official White House TikTok account on Thursday and synchronised the song’s “boom, boom, boom” lyrics with scenes of explosions. It also carried the caption, “Iran has been warned.”
Perry responded on X on Saturday, saying she was “deeply appalled and angry” to see her song used in the post. She stressed that she had neither approved nor been asked for permission and said she “absolutely” did not support its use.
The singer explained that she wrote Firework as an anthem of hope, healing and inner strength for people facing difficult moments in their lives. She said using a song centred on self-worth and encouragement alongside images of destruction and violence completely contradicted its purpose. Perry added that her music was meant to unite people, not celebrate warfare.
According to Variety, the White House post came as the Trump administration appeared to pause a previously threatened escalation against Iran while negotiations continued. President Donald Trump said Washington was “locked and loaded” but “not in a hurry”, claiming Tehran had become more serious about reaching an agreement. At the same time, US Central Command continued strikes on Iranian missile, maritime and nuclear-related targets.
Perry is not the only musician to object to the administration’s use of copyrighted music. Variety noted that Ariana Grande criticised the White House in June after a version of her 2024 song Bye was used in a TikTok video showing ICE agents arresting and handcuffing people. Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Celine Dion, Neil Young and The Rolling Stones have also publicly objected to Donald Trump’s use of their music for political events and campaigns they do not support.
