American pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has launched a fierce public rebuke of former US President Donald Trump and his administration for featuring one of her chart-topping songs in a controversial government video.
Carpenter's Furious Response to 'Evil' Video
The controversy erupted on Tuesday when the White House's official TikTok account posted footage depicting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducting raids and detaining individuals across the United States. The clip was set to the soundtrack of Carpenter's 2024 hit single, Juno, from her globally successful album Short n' Sweet.
Carpenter did not hold back in her condemnation, taking to the social media platform X to express her outrage. "This video is evil and disgusting," the singer wrote. She directly addressed the Trump administration, stating, "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda."
The White House video begins with scenes from a protest against ICE operations before transitioning to a montage showing officers handcuffing and apprehending people. A viral lyric from Juno – "Have you ever tried this one?" – is featured prominently, with the on-screen caption mirroring the line.
A Stark Contrast to Artistic Intent
The use of the song created a jarring dissonance with its original artistic context. During her live performances, Carpenter incorporates a playful skit involving pink furry faux handcuffs, a lighthearted moment that has even seen her hand them to audience members like actress Nicole Kidman at a recent show. This stands in stark opposition to the imagery of real law enforcement actions presented in the government's video.
Carpenter's fan base swiftly rallied behind her, flooding social media with support and echoing her disgust. Many labelled the ICE video "sickening" and "embarrassing to watch," criticising its perceived lack of compassion.
White House Fires Back and a Growing List of Objections
In a sharp retort to Carpenter's criticism, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson issued a statement to CNBC. "Here's a Short n' Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won't apologise for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists and pedophiles from our country," Jackson said, pointedly referencing the singer's album title. She added, "Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?"
With this incident, Sabrina Carpenter now finds herself part of a substantial group of prominent musicians who have publicly clashed with Donald Trump over the unauthorised use of their work. She joins the ranks of artists like Beyoncé, Neil Young, ABBA, Celine Dion, and Olivia Rodrigo, all of whom have demanded Trump stop using their songs at political rallies or in promotional social media content.
Just last month, Olivia Rodrigo criticised the White House for using her track All-American Bitch in a video encouraging immigrants to self-deport. In a more legalistic move, Jack White and the White Stripes sued Trump's campaign in 2024 over the use of Seven Nation Army, though the suit was dropped later that year according to The Hollywood Reporter. White has remained a vocal critic, recently labelling Trump a "low life fascist."
The recurring conflict highlights ongoing tensions between political campaigns and artists' rights to control how their creative output is utilised, especially when it is co-opted to support policies or messages they fundamentally oppose.
