Pop star and actress Sabrina Carpenter publicly criticized the White House for using her music without permission in a promotional video. On December 2, Carpenter posted on X, formerly Twitter, calling the video evil and disgusting and demanding that her music and name not be used to promote what she described as an inhumane agenda.
The video features scenes of protesters opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement alongside footage of ICE agents pursuing and restraining individuals believed to be immigrants, effectively highlighting the administration’s stance on illegal immigration enforcement.
The controversy centers on the unauthorized use of Carpenter’s hit song Juno, reportedly used without approval from the artist or the copyright holder.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded by referencing Carpenter’s album title Short n Sweet, defending the administration’s actions and stating that deporting dangerous criminals and undocumented individuals with serious offenses requires no apology. Despite the backlash, the video remains posted on the White House’s X account.
This controversy is part of a broader pattern, as the Trump administration has repeatedly used popular artists’ music without authorization in promotional content.
In one notable case, Taylor Swift’s The Fate of Ophelia was featured in a video highlighting President Trump’s achievements, despite the well-documented tension between the artist and the former President.
The administration has also incorporated music from major pop figures such as Beyoncé, Celine Dion, and Taylor Swift in various light-hearted policy messages, often without seeking permission, leading to public objections from the artists involved.
