Katy Perry Slams White House Over Firework Use in Iran War Video 2026

Pop star Katy Perry has condemned the Trump White House after it used her hit song Firework in a TikTok video showing US military strikes on Iranian targets. The unauthorized use of her music has sparked outrage among artists and fans alike.

White House TikTok Video Ignites Controversy

The White House video, which featured Firework playing over footage of a missile striking an Iranian naval ship, amassed more than 6 million views. The post was captioned: “Iran has been warned.” Perry responded on Saturday with a statement on X criticizing what she called the unauthorized use of the song.

“I am deeply appalled and angry to see ‘Firework’ used on the White House TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes,” the singer said. “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.”

Perry’s Statement: A Violation of Artistic Intent

Perry continued: “I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments. To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized to soundtrack destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for. My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare.”

The White House launched its TikTok account in August 2025, when Donald Trump threatened to ban the platform months into his second presidency. Perry is among a number of artists to criticize the Trump administration over the unauthorized use of music in government social media posts.

Other Artists Who Have Clashed with the White House

Olivia Rodrigo previously criticized the administration after one of her songs appeared in a government video promoting deportation efforts. Beyoncé also blocked Trump from using her song Freedom after it was featured in a campaign video on social media. The track had served as the central campaign song for former vice-president Kamala Harris, who lost the 2024 White House election to Trump. In March, Kesha condemned the White House’s use of her song Blow in a military-promotional TikTok video.

Key Takeaways

• Katy Perry publicly condemned the White House for using Firework in a military strike TikTok video.
• The video amassed over 6 million views before being taken down.
• Perry stated the use was unauthorized and violated the song’s message of hope.
• She joins a growing list of artists (Olivia Rodrigo, Beyoncé, Kesha) who have spoken out against the Trump administration’s use of their music.
• The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between artists and political campaigns regarding licensing and consent.

FAQ

This incident raises broader questions about intellectual property, artistic consent, and the weaponization of pop culture in political messaging. As more artists speak up, the White House may face increasing pressure to secure proper licenses before using copyrighted music.