Katy Perry Denounces White House for Unauthorised Use of ‘Firework’ in Iran Military TikTok

Katy Perry has spoken out against the Trump administration after it featured her hit single “Firework” in a TikTok clip depicting strikes on Iranian targets, insisting she never authorised the use.

The White House TikTok post, which paired “Firework” with footage of a missile hitting an Iranian naval vessel, has garnered more than six million views and was captioned “Iran has been warned.”

Perry issued a statement on X on Saturday, criticising what she described as the unauthorised use of the track.

“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.”

She added: “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 weaponised 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 criticise the Trump administration over the unauthorised use of music in government social‑media posts, with the president picking fights with several – mostly female – pop singers.

Olivia Rodrigo previously criticised 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, calling it a “show of blatant disregard for human life.”

Sabrina Carpenter spoke out after her hit song “Juno” was used in a Trump‑posted video showing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers making arrests. Carpenter called the video “evil and disgusting” and told the administration: “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

In June, Ariana Grande also rebuked the White House for using her song “Bye” in a social‑media post promoting US immigration arrests, describing the video as “barbaric.”

Singer Jess Glynne also objected after the White House used her song “Hold My Hand” in a post on X promoting ICE deportations. Glynne said she felt “sick” that her music was being used to spread “division and hate.”

It was revealed in December that Perry is in a relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, who is familiar himself with Trump’s trolling. He has repeatedly been targeted by Trump, who has continuously threatened to impose tariffs on Canada and has even suggested the US should annex the country, referring to Trudeau as the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”

The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) lists the official death toll for the US‑Iran conflict at 14 service members, with 420 total personnel wounded in action.

Those official metrics, however, have been subject to ongoing controversy due to a sudden drop from the 18 deaths and 482 wounded recorded days earlier.

The collapse of the ceasefire with Iran and the subsequent resumption of near‑daily airstrikes starting on 6 July have sparked debate over how casualties are counted. Analysts and officials have questioned whether victims from the two weeks since should be tracked in a separate tally, a move that would be unprecedented.

The Trump administration is attempting to have the latest resumed strikes in Iran be treated as a separate campaign from Operation Epic Fury, the US military’s official name for the Iran conflict. The separate casualty count beginning 7 July stems from that.

The US House member Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, responded to the updated numbers in an X post, writing, “Let me explain this absurd ruse: The Pentagon is pretending there have been two Iran wars separated by a brief cease‑fire.

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