Katy Perry Slams White House Use of Firework in Video

The Unauthorized Military Strike Video

The controversy began after the official White House TikTok account shared a 9-second video featuring "unclassified" footage of military action. The clip shows black-and-white video of U.S.-fired missiles successfully hitting port targets located in Iran. The social media team synchronized the footage with Katy Perry’s 2010 hit single "Firework," specifically timing the lyrics "Boom, boom, boom / Even brighter than the moon" to play over the images of the explosions. The post, which was shared two days prior to the singer's response, included a caption that read: "Iran has been warned."

The use of the track appears to be part of a broader social media strategy. Reports indicate that the White House TikTok account has been engaging in a pursuit of "shitposting" by intentionally selecting music from artists who are known critics of the administration. Earlier in the same month, the account used "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes—a track written by Jack White, an avowed critic of the administration—to soundtrack a different video regarding military action.

Perry’s Public Condemnation

On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the 41-year-old singer took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her anger regarding the unauthorized use of her intellectual property. Perry made it clear that she was not consulted about the video and does not support the context in which her music was presented.

"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. I did not approve this, I was not asked, and I absolutely do not condone it."

— Katy Perry

The singer further elaborated on the original intent behind the song, which was released as the third single from her 2010 album Teenage Dream. Perry emphasized that the track was never intended to be associated with violence or international conflict.

"I wrote this song to be an anthem of hope, healing, and inner strength for people going through their darkest personal moments. 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."

— Katy Perry

She concluded her statement by reiterating her stance on the purpose of her creative work, writing:

"My music is for bringing people together, not celebrating warfare."

— Katy Perry

A Growing List of Artist Complaints

Perry is not the only high-profile musician to criticize the Trump administration’s social media team for the unauthorized use of music. She joins a list of artists including Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter who have decried similar actions. In June, Ariana Grande criticized the White House for featuring her 2024 song "Bye" in a TikTok video that promoted ICE agents making arrests.

Earlier this year, the artist Kesha also spoke out against the administration after her song "Blow" was used without permission in a military-themed TikTok. That video featured footage of fighter jets and military strikes and was captioned "Lethality." These incidents are part of a larger trend where dozens of artists have criticized the administration for using their music in political videos and at campaign rallies without obtaining the necessary consent.

Context and Career Background

As an artist primarily associated with the Pop genre, as well as Pop Rock and Rock, Perry has established herself as a major figure in the industry since being formed in 1984. "Firework" remains one of her most successful commercial releases, having spent four nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s enduring popularity as an "anthem of hope" has made its recent use in a military context particularly jarring for the artist, who maintains that her work is intended for personal upliftment rather than the celebration of destruction.