American pop superstar Katy Perry has voiced sharp condemnation against the Trump administration following the unauthorised use of her chart-topping anthem “Firework” in an official social media video showcasing military strikes against targets in Iran.

The controversy erupted after the official White House TikTok account published a video displaying footage of military engagements accompanied by Perry’s hit song, alongside a caption reading, “Iran has been warned.” The video quickly drew widespread criticism online, prompting a swift and forceful public reaction from the singer-songwriter.

Taking to her official X account, Perry expressed deep indignation over the weaponisation of her music. She wrote that she was deeply outraged and devastated by the unapproved usage, stating clearly that she was neither asked for permission nor did she endorse the message in any capacity. Perry added that seeing an anthem originally created to convey self-worth and empowerment transformed into a tool for destruction and conflict stood fundamentally opposed to the core spirit of her work.

Released in 2010 as part of her acclaimed album Teenage Dream, “Firework” stands as one of Perry’s signature tracks and is among her nine songs to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2023, the singer sold her master recordings and publishing rights for five of her studio albums—including Teenage Dream—to Litmus Music, a platform backed by Carlyle Group Inc., in a deal valued at approximately $225 million. Despite changes in underlying intellectual property ownership, artists frequently challenge political entities over moral rights and the non-consensual association of their creative works with military or partisan agendas.

Perry has long maintained a high-profile presence in American political discourse as a steadfast supporter of the Democratic Party. She actively campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, backed Joe Biden in 2020, and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 campaign cycle. In her personal life, the international pop icon has recently attracted significant media attention following reports linking her romantically with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

By confronting the administration, Perry joins an expanding roster of high-profile artists who have publicly reprimanded political figures and federal departments for using their music without authorization. Emerging pop stars such as Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, as well as Kids Can Press—the publisher of the popular children’s book character Franklin the Turtle—have previously protested the unsanctioned use of their creative materials by political accounts. Furthermore, legendary recording artists including Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Adele, and Rihanna have repeatedly issued formal objections and legal notices regarding the unauthorized playback of their catalog at campaign rallies and political events.