Ariana Grande has publicly rebuked US President Donald Trump for using her song "We Can't Be Friends" in an anti-trans video posted on TikTok. The popstar, who was tagged in the post's caption, responded directly in the comments section with a warning: "Never use my music again. Also, your truth is false."
Trump Campaign Video Sparks Backlash
The video, shared by Team Trump on Thursday, August 20, showed the president walking toward the stage at a political rally. Overlaid text read: "Me and my truth we sit in silence... men can't have babies and should never compete in women's sports." The caption tagged Ariana Grande, drawing her attention to the post.
Following her comment, the audio to Grande's 2024 single "We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" was removed from the post, though the video itself remained online.
Second Clash Over Trump's Use of Her Music
This is the second time Ariana Grande has criticised Trump over his use of her music. Earlier, the president used her 2024 track "Bye" in a TikTok video depicting ICE agents conducting arrests. That post was captioned: "Bye-bye. President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history."
Grande responded forcefully at the time, saying: "Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. F*** ICE."
Impact and Ongoing Tension
The removal of the audio from the latest post indicates that Team Trump acknowledged her complaint, at least in part. However, the incident highlights a growing pattern of political campaigns using popular music without permission, prompting artists to speak out. As of now, Trump has not publicly responded to Grande's latest warning, and it remains unclear whether future campaign videos will continue to feature her songs.
