Katy Perry condemns White House use of Firework in strike video

Developed over time first seen 2 months ago

Variety · 2 months ago

Katy Perry has publicly condemned the White House for using her 2010 song "Firework" in a TikTok video depicting US military strikes, saying she was never consulted and does not endorse its use. In a post on X, she said the track was written as "an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength" and called its pairing with footage of explosions "a complete violation" of everything the song stands for, adding that her music is meant to unite people rather than "celebrate warfare." The episode became the latest flashpoint in a recurring dispute between musicians and the Trump administration over the unauthorised political use of their work.

The White House video, posted on Thursday, synchronised the lyric "boom, boom, boom" with clips of bomb explosions and carried the caption "Iran has been warned." It appeared as the administration signalled a pause in further escalation against Iran while negotiations continued, even as US forces remained on standby and Central Command carried out further strikes on Iranian missile, maritime and nuclear-related targets. Perry joins a growing list of artists, including Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Celine Dion, Neil Young and the Rolling Stones, who have objected to the Trump administration using their songs without permission for political or military-themed content.

Katy Perry denounced White House use of "Firework" in a strikes video
She said she wasn't asked and doesn't condone it
Joins Grande, Rodrigo, Dion, Young and others in similar complaints

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Musicians’ songs are protected by copyright, and artists often seek to control how their work is used in public campaigns. A licence may be needed to use a recording in a video, but artists can also object when they believe a use links their music to a message they do not support.

“Firework” is a 2010 pop song by Katy Perry, widely associated with encouragement and self-belief. Its use alongside military footage has drawn attention because the White House is the public communications arm of the US president and administration.

Disputes over politicians using popular music are common in the United States, particularly during elections or major political events. They can involve legal questions about permission and copyright, as well as disagreements over whether the use changes or conflicts with an artist’s intended message.

Both sides, in good faith

The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.

The case for

Supporters of Perry’s objection argue that artists should retain meaningful control over how their work is associated with political power and military action, particularly when the use reverses the song’s intended message. They may see pairing an anthem of encouragement with images of bombing as both disrespectful to the creator and needlessly insensitive to people affected by conflict. This view prioritises artistic integrity, consent and restraint in official communications.

The case against

Defenders of the White House post could argue that political institutions are entitled to use widely recognised cultural material to communicate their policies vividly, provided they comply with applicable licensing and copyright rules. They may contend that the lyric and imagery were intended as a forceful warning to an adversary, not a statement about Perry’s personal beliefs or the song’s full meaning. This view prioritises freedom of political expression and the government’s ability to communicate deterrence in contemporary media.

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Originally published by Variety as “Katy Perry Slams Trump Administration for Using Song ‘Firework’ in Military Strikes Video: ‘I Absolutely Do Not Condone It’”.