Sabrina Carpenter is pushing back against the Trump administration’s use of her music in an immigration enforcement video.
During her Short n’ Sweet Tour, the 26-year-old pop star would playfully “arrest” someone from the crowd — often a celebrity — while performing her 2024 track “Juno.”
On Monday, Dec. 1, that same song was used as the soundtrack for a video shared by the Trump administration promoting ICE arrests.
“Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,” The White House account wrote on X, echoing a lyric from the track.
Carpenter strongly criticized the use of “Juno” in an X post on Tuesday, Dec. 2, writing: “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
In a statement on Dec. 2, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, responded: “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: 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?”
While Carpenter appears not to have granted permission for “Juno” to be used and has publicly condemned the video, it remains unclear whether she plans to pursue any further action.
Several musicians have previously objected to Donald Trump using their songs to promote his campaigns, including Céline Dion, Bruce Springsteen, Linkin Park, Neil Young and others.
Last month, Olivia Rodrigo criticized the use of her music to promote Trump administration policies after The White House and DHS used “All-American Bitch” in a video about self-deportation, per Rolling Stone.
In that footage, ICE agents are shown detaining undocumented immigrants alongside the caption: “If ICE finds you, LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.”
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Rodrigo, 22, reportedly commented — in a post that has since been deleted — “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
At the time, a DHS spokesperson shared a statement with Rolling Stone: “America is grateful all the time for our federal law enforcement officers who keep us safe. We suggest Ms. Rodrigo thank them for their service, not belittle their sacrifice.”
