Katy Perry Slams White House for Using ‘Firework’ to Back Military Strikes

Pop singer Katy Perry publicly condemned the White House social media team on July 25, 2026, after the official White House TikTok account used her hit song “Firework” to soundtrack a video showcasing U.S. military strikes. According to a statement posted by the artist on X, formerly Twitter, the unauthorized use weaponized her anthem of hope for military propaganda.

Katy Perry Slams White House TikTok Over Military Footage

The disputed nine-second TikTok video, published by the White House account, features unclassified footage of U.S.-fired missiles striking port targets in Iran. The clip includes the chorus of Perry’s 2010 track while text overlaid on the screen warns, “Iran has been warned,” according to reports on the post. Perry stated that she never approved the use of her music and was never asked by administration officials.

“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,” Perry wrote on X. “I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.” She added that she wrote the song as an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people navigating difficult personal moments.

Broader Trend of Artists Condemning Unauthorized Campaign Music

Perry’s public rebuke places her alongside other prominent pop artists, including Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, who have previously objected to government and political accounts using their material without permission. The White House TikTok account has frequently utilized tracks by artists known to be critical of Donald Trump, such as featuring the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”—written by vocal Trump critic Jack White—in an earlier July post concerning military action.

“My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare,” Perry wrote.