The White House has countered criticism from pop star Katy Perry over the unauthorized deployment of her music in a military video by referencing her past work featuring military themes. Administration officials highlighted Perry’s 2012 music video for “Part of Me,” filmed on a Marine Corps base and incorporating military training elements, to argue that her current anti-war stance is inconsistent with her historical content.
The dispute intensified after the White House published a TikTok post featuring Perry’s 2010 hit song “Firework” over footage of U.S. military strikes against Iranian naval targets, accompanied by the caption “Iran has been warned.” The video garnered more than six million views and prompted Perry to publicly criticize the government on social media.
Perry stated she was deeply disturbed by the unauthorized use: “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. I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it.”
Perry emphasized that she wrote the song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for individuals facing personal struggles. She condemned its weaponization in contexts promoting violence: “To see a message of self-worth and upliftment weaponized 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 incident underscores growing tensions between political officials and recording artists over the use of their music in government social media content. The administration launched its TikTok account in August 2025 during President Donald Trump’s second term, following threats to ban the platform. Perry is among several prominent female pop stars who have criticized or blocked the administration’s deployment of their music in official posts related to immigration enforcement and military operations.
