Katy Perry ‘deeply appalled’ over White House using her song in Iran war video | Trump administration
Pop star Katy Perry slammed the Trump White House for using her hit song Firework in a TikTok video showing US military strikes against Iranian targets, saying she never approved the use of her music.
white house videoThe video of the fireworks display over the footage of the missile hitting an Iranian navy ship was watched more than 6 million times. The post was titled: “Iran warned.”
Perry responded on Saturday: Description of X He criticizes what he calls the unauthorized use of the song.
“I was deeply appalled and outraged to see the White House TikTok account use the term ‘Fireworks’ for video footage of military strikes,” the singer said. he said. “I did not approve of this, I was not asked and I certainly do not approve of it.”
Perry continued: “I wrote this song as an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments. Seeing its message of self-worth and morale uplift as a weapon for destruction and violence is a complete violation of everything my song stands for. My music is meant to bring people together, not to celebrate war.”
The White House launched the TikTok account in August 2025, after Donald Trump threatened to ban the platform, months into his second presidency.
Perry is among numerous artists who have criticized the Trump administration for the government’s unauthorized use of music in social media posts, and the president has feuded with several pop singers, many of whom are women.
Olivia Rodrigo previously criticized the administration after one of her songs was featured in a video supporting the government’s deportation efforts.
Beyoncé also blocked Trump from using her song Freedom after it was featured in a campaign video on social media. The track served as the main campaign song for former vice president Kamala Harris, who lost the 2024 White House election to Trump.
Kesha in March condemned The White House’s use of his song Blow in a military promotional TikTok video called it a “blatant show of disrespect for human life.”
Sabrina Carpenter has spoken out after her hit song Juno was used in a video released by Trump showing arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Carpenter called the video “evil and disgusting” and told management: “Never implicate me or my music for your inhumane interests.”
In June, Ariana Grande also scolded the White House for using her song Bye in a social media post supporting immigration detentions in the United States, describing the video as “barbaric.”
Singer Jess Glynne also took issue with the White House after it used her song Hold My Hand in a post on X supporting ICE deportations. Glynne said he felt “sick” that his music was being used to spread “division and hatred”.
It was revealed in December that Perry was having an affair with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who was familiar with Trump’s trolling. He has been repeatedly targeted by Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and even suggested the United States annex the country, referring to Trudeau as the “governor” of the “Great Province of Canada.”
The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) lists the official death toll in the US-Iran conflict at 14 soldiers, with a total of 420 personnel injured during the operation.
However, these official measurements have been subject to ongoing debate due to the sudden drop in the number of 18 deaths and 482 injured recorded days ago.
The breakdown of the ceasefire with Iran and the subsequent resumption of almost daily air strikes starting on July 6 has led to debate about how casualties are counted. Analysts and officials have since questioned whether victims from the past two weeks should be tracked in a separate tally; this was an unprecedented move.
The Trump administration is trying to ensure that the latest renewed attacks in Iran are treated as a separate campaign from Operation Epic Fury, the US military’s official name for the Iran conflict. separate casualty count This is the beginning of July 7th.
U.S. House member Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, responded to the updated figures an X postHe writes: “Let me explain this ridiculous game: The Pentagon is acting as if there are two Iran wars separated by a brief ceasefire.
“Fact: Going beyond 90 days without congressional authorization VIOLATES THE LAW and must be held accountable,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
