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Ariana Grande vs. Trump Administration: Political Clash Over Song Usage

PUBLISHED Aug 22, 2026, 11:17 AM ET

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Pop superstar Ariana Grande publicly rebuked the Trump administration on August 20, 2026, after the official Team Trump TikTok account used her 2024 hit song "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" in a political video. The post featured President Donald Trump walking toward a podium alongside text addressing gender policies in sports, captioned with lyrics from Grande's track. Grande responded directly in the comments section, writing, "Never use my music again. Also, your truth is false". This incident marks the second major clash between the Grammy-winning artist and the administration within three months. In June 2026, Grande criticized the White House for featuring her song "Bye" in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement promotional video. White House representatives have previously defended their policy messaging while utilizing viral social media strategies to amplify public discourse.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On September 10, 2025, White House officials responded sharply to earlier political criticisms from singer Ariana Grande.
On June 10, 2026, White House accounts featured Grande song in an immigration enforcement video.
On June 11, 2026, Ariana Grande condemned immigration video usage as barbaric and inhumane.
On June 12, 2026, White House defenders stated immigration policies protect innocent American citizens.
On August 20, 2026, Team Trump posted TikTok featuring Grande track and sports messaging.
On August 20, 2026, Ariana Grande replied demanding her music never be used again.
On August 21, 2026, TikTok removed the unauthorized audio track from the political video clip.
On August 22, 2026, media outlets globally reported on the recurring copyright dispute.
In coming months, artists may increase legal oversight regarding political social media posts.
In future years, copyright legislation regarding short-form political video content will evolve.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Sparks renewed debate over digital copyright and political messaging.
Long-term US impact: Could prompt stricter legal boundaries for campaign social media usage.
Most affected groups: Pop artists, political campaign teams, and social media platform regulators.
What readers should prioritise: Verify original platform source statements and official artist representative responses.