Ariana Grande has made it clear that she does not want the Trump administration to use her music to promote him or his policies.
On August 20, 2026, the official TikTok page for the president’s campaign, Team Trump, posted a video that featured the singer’s song “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)” playing over a clip of Trump at one of his rallies. Text over the clip reads, “Me and my truth we sit in silence…men can’t have babies and should never compete in women’s sports.” The caption of the video states, “This shouldn’t be controversial!” followed by #trump #arianagrande and #maga. The video has over a million views.
In the comment section, Grande responded clearly: “Never use my music again. Also your truth is false.” Her comment is no longer visible, either deleted by herself or removed by the individuals behind the Team Trump account. Grande’s song has also been muted from the post.
Other comments under the post fall in one of two camps: People praising Ariana Grande for her stance and wanting to find her comment, or people agreeing with the anti-trans “truth” Team Trump is claiming.
This is not the first time the Trump administration has used one of Grande’s songs for promotional material. This past June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) played her music over a video promoting the Secure America Act. This act provided $70 billion in funding to the Department of Homeland Security, specifically towards Customs and Border Protection and ICE.
Grande also criticized the account for using her music then, commenting “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense.” This lead to White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson to respond back, using Grande’s words to deliver the message that “what’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.”
Grande herself has been outwardly supportive of the trans community, especially in the past few years as Trump’s anti-trans policies and sentiments have been gaining more traction. In 2025, Grande had reposted a message from Advocates for Trans Equality to her Intragram stories, following Trump’s signing of an anti-trans executive order. She also launched the Brighter Days Ahead Foundation in June, which advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights, and reproductive justice. The Foundation also strives to help groups “meet urgent moments with aid and resources, providing rapid support and relief during times of collective need.”
Grande is another artist in a list of many who have asked the Trump administration to not use their music for rallies or social media. Others include Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Kesha, and Katy Perry.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
