Katy Perry spoke out against the White House on Saturday after its official TikTok account used her 2010 anthem “Firework” as the backing track for a video showing U.S. military strikes, saying she never approved the use and that it runs counter to everything the song was written to represent.
What Happened
The White House TikTok account shared the video on Thursday, syncing the song’s “boom, boom, boom” lyrics to footage of military strikes, including a missile hitting a naval target, with the caption “Iran has been warned.” Two days later, on Saturday morning at 10:02 a.m., Perry addressed the video directly on X. Her post, in full, read: “I am deeply appalled and angry to see ‘Firework’ used on the @WhiteHouse TikTok account as a backing track for video footage of military strikes. I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it. 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.”
Why “Firework” Matters to Her
“Firework,” released in 2010 as part of her Grammy-nominated album “Teenage Dream,” has long been positioned as one of Perry’s signature messages of self-worth and resilience, frequently cited by fans as a source of comfort during difficult periods. Her statement emphasized that distinction directly, framing the White House’s use of the song as fundamentally at odds with its intended meaning as a piece of music meant to uplift rather than accompany footage of violence.
A Longtime Voice in Democratic Politics
Perry’s objection to the video is consistent with a long public record of political engagement on the Democratic side of American politics. She endorsed Barack Obama in 2012, campaigned extensively for Hillary Clinton in 2016, performing at the Democratic National Convention and appearing at rallies across the country, and later backed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in subsequent election cycles. In the final days of the 2024 presidential race, Perry appeared at a Kamala Harris rally in Pittsburgh, performing “Dark Horse” and “Part of Me” before urging the crowd to help make Harris “the next president of the United States.” She has also been a longtime advocate on issues including gun control, LGBTQ rights, and reproductive rights.
Part of a Wider Wave of Pushback From Musicians
Perry now joins a growing list of women in music who have objected to the Trump administration’s use of their songs in official government content without permission. Ariana Grande criticized the White House last month after her song “Bye” appeared in a video promoting legislation tied to ICE and Border Patrol funding, commenting that officials should never use her music “in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” Sabrina Carpenter also condemned a White House video that used her song “Juno” to accompany footage of ICE arrests, calling it “evil and disgusting.” Kesha likewise spoke out after her song “Blow” was used alongside footage of fighter jets and military strikes, describing that video as “disgusting and inhumane.”
Her Relationship With Justin Trudeau
Perry’s public profile has also become increasingly intertwined with international politics over the past year through her relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. The two were first linked in July 2025 after being spotted together in Montreal during her Lifetimes Tour, and confirmed their relationship publicly in October 2025 at her 41st birthday celebration in Paris. Sources close to the couple have described the relationship as having grown “much more serious” heading into 2026, with Trudeau reportedly traveling internationally to see Perry throughout her tour schedule. In January 2026, the pair made their first public appearance of the year together at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, walking hand in hand after an event, a moment that placed Perry’s personal life squarely within a global political setting.
A Career Built on Reinvention
Perry, 41, has spent nearly two decades as one of pop music’s most consistent commercial forces, known for a run of number-one singles in the early 2010s and a career defined by bold visual reinvention with each album cycle. Alongside her music, she has built a public identity around advocacy, humanitarian work, and, more recently, an increasingly visible role in political and diplomatic circles through her relationship with Trudeau, including a joint appearance with former Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida.
The Song at the Center of the Controversy
The specific TikTok video that prompted Perry’s response has drawn substantial engagement online, reported by outlets to have surpassed six million views and more than 600,000 likes since it was posted. The strikes shown in the footage are part of an ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iranian targets, with officials confirming continued operations against missile, maritime, and nuclear-related sites even as the administration has signaled openness to negotiations.
No Word From the White House
Neither the White House nor its social media team had issued a public response to Perry’s statement as of publication, and outlets that sought comment from officials reported no reply.
Fans and Critics Respond
Reaction to Perry’s statement was substantial, with many fans and fellow artists expressing support for her decision to speak out about the unauthorized use of her work. Others online, including some critical of Perry’s politics, pointed to her 2023 sale of a stake in her master recordings and publishing rights, reportedly valued at $225 million, as a point of contention in the conversation, though the sale does not affect an artist’s right to publicly object to how their music is used in a given context.
What This Means Going Forward
Perry’s statement adds her name to an expanding conversation among prominent women in music about creative control, consent, and the use of their work in politically charged government messaging. Whether the video remains on the White House’s TikTok account, and whether Perry pursues any further action, remains to be seen.