Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has become the latest in a long list of artists to condemn the Trump administration for using their music without permission.
These songs have been used for President Donald Trump’s campaigns, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid promotions, rallies, and social media videos.
Most recently, the administration posted an ICE video set to Carpenter’s song ‘Juno.’
Highlights
- Sabrina Carpenter condemned the Trump administration for using her song 'Juno' in an ICE raid video without her permission.
- The White House mocked Carpenter’s protest, defending deportations of criminals and insulting her fans.
- This unauthorized music use follows a pattern, with many artists opposing the admin’s use of their songs in immigration enforcement.
- Other artists like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Beyoncé have also resisted or condemned unauthorized use of their music in political content.
Sabrina Carpenter condemned the Trump administration for using her song for an ICE video without her permission
Image credits: Gilbert Flores/Getty Images
Juno’s lyrics talk about sex positions, “Wanna try out some freaky positions? Have you ever tried this one?”
The White House posted a video on X showing ICE agents chasing and arresting people in what appeared to be several U.S. cities while “Have you ever tried this one?” plays in the back.
The caption repeated the lyric, treating it as a punchline, while agents tackled and handcuffed individuals.
“This video is evil and disgusting,” Carpenter wrote on X. “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
Her fans quickly echoed her outrage. Many thanked her for speaking up, while others cheered on her for “frying” the administration.
Image credits: X
The White House pushed back instead of removing the video. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson mocked Carpenter by referencing the singer’s 2024 album Short n’ Sweet and her single ‘Manchild.’
“Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter,” Jackson said. “We won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
Image credits: SabrinaAnnLynn/X
The administration’s decision to spotlight Carpenter’s music follows a pattern dating back to Trump’s first term: Officials have repeatedly paired popular songs with social media clips promoting Trump and his immigration enforcement, or even playing songs at his rallies.
Many artists have clashed with the administration this year, although Taylor Swift stayed silent when her song ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ was used in another White House video. Her fans condemned the move.
Olivia Rodrigo told officials, “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,” after the Department of Homeland Security used her track ‘All-American Bitch’ in a video urging undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S.
The administration has a pattern of using popular songs without permission from the artists
Image credits: PopBase/X
Kenny Loggins criticized the administration for using ‘Danger Zone’ in an AI-generated video that depicted Donald Trump dumping human waste on protesters.
“Nobody asked for my permission, which I would have denied,” he said. “I request that my recording on the video is removed immediately.”
When Rihanna was alerted that ‘Please Don’t Stop The Music’ was playing at rallies in 2018, the popular singer wrote, “Not for much longer...me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies.”
Last year, Beyoncé blocked Trump from using her song ‘Freedom,’ the same track that was the central song for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. While Beyoncé did not publicly condemn the administration, her record label moved to block the song’s use, and the video has since been taken down.
Jess Glynne also objected when officials used her song ‘Hold My Hand’ to celebrate deportations, saying the post “honestly makes me sick.”
The Foo Fighters and Celine Dion’s teams also reiterated that the artists had not given their permission for their songs to be used during Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. “And really, THAT song?” Dion’s representatives said in a statement.
Artists including ABBA, Adele, Guns N’ Roses, Queen, Panic! At The Disco, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and Linkin Park have also demanded that the Trump administration not use their songs.
Carpenter’s rebuke adds to the growing list of artists rejecting any association with the administration’s expanded immigration crackdown.
Image credits: Jamie Kelter Davis/Getty Images
In the 11 months since Trump returned to office, the White House has intensified arrests and deportations.
Many people swept up in raids have no criminal history, despite the administration’s claim that it is targeting violent offenders. ICE has been at the center of this immigration crackdown, with agents often appearing in plain clothes and masks as they raid facilities and arrest people they deem to be undocumented immigrants.