The White House TikTok account posted a video showing US military strikes on Iranian targets set to Katy Perry’s song "Firework" without the singer’s approval, sparking public condemnation from Perry [1, 2]. The video featured footage of a missile hitting an Iranian naval ship with the caption "Iran has been warned." The clip has been viewed over 6 million times [1].

Perry, 41, said she was "deeply appalled and angry" about the unauthorized use of her song and that she "absolutely do[es] not condone it." She stated the song was written as "an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments" and called the use of the track to "soundtrack destruction and violence" a betrayal of its meaning [1]. She also expressed her opposition to the song being weaponized and said, "My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare" [1]. Perry’s condemnation was posted on July 25 or 26 on social media [1, 3, 2].

The song "Firework," released in 2010 on the album Teenage Dream, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. Perry sold the rights to her first five studio albums, including "Firework," in a $225 million deal with Litmus Music, a Carlyle Group subsidiary, in September 2023 [3, 2].

The White House TikTok account was launched in August 2025 during Donald Trump’s second presidency [1]. In response to Perry’s criticism, Deputy Communications Director Kaelan Dorr shared a clip from Perry’s "Part of Me" music video, which features her undergoing military training [2].

Other artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, Kesha, Beyoncé, and Ariana Grande have also criticized or blocked the previous Trump administration’s unauthorized use of their music [1, 3].

The White House video post and Perry’s response mark the latest public clash over music rights and government media use. The White House TikTok video first appeared around July 23 [1, 2], and Perry’s statement followed days later.

No further statements or actions have been announced, leaving the dispute ongoing as of mid-August 2026.