Overview
- Team Trump posted a TikTok using a clip of Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” paired with text criticizing transgender women, and the post drew thousands of reactions.
- Grande publicly commented on the post on Friday saying “Never use my music again” and that the account’s message was false, though her comment later disappeared from the thread.
- Hours after her objection, Republic Records arranged for the song’s audio to be removed from the Team Trump video while the video itself remained on TikTok without her music.
- This episode follows a June dispute when Grande objected to the White House’s use of her song “Bye,” and it fits a wider pattern of artists asking labels to block government or campaign uses of their work.
- Beyond the immediate removal, the clash renewed public debate over Republican policies affecting trans people and put pressure on campaigns and government accounts to clear rights and reputational concerns before using popular songs.