Sabrina Carpenter is speaking out after President Donald Trump’s White House used one of her songs in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation video.
“This video is evil and disgusting,” Carpenter, 26, wrote via X on Tuesday, December 2. “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
One day earlier, the White House posted a video featuring images of ICE officers detaining individuals alleged to be “dangerous” criminals residing in the United States without proper authorization. Carpenter’s song “Juno” played in the background of the 21-second clip.
“Have you ever tried this one?” the White House captioned the video via X, referencing Carpenter’s viral moments in her life shows in which she strikes various sexual poses. “Bye-bye.”
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In response to Carpenter’s post, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the video and its content.
“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,” Jackson said in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday. “Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
(According to the Cato Institute, 93 percent of individuals detained and booked in ICE detention centers have not been convicted of a violent crime, and nearly two-thirds have no criminal conviction at all.)
Carpenter’s post comes just days after she wrapped the United States portion of her Short n’ Sweet tour with six sold-out shows at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
According to the singer, the tour raised more than $1.5 million for various organizations, including The Jed Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society and Trans Law Center. The shows also “helped register tens of thousands of new voters” with HeadCount.
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She is expected to headline the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California, in April 2026.
Carpenter isn’t the first celebrity to object to having their music be associated with Trump’s administration’s policies.
In October, Kenny Loggins made headlines for criticizing the White House’s use of his hit song “Danger Zone” in a video that depicted Trump flying over No Kings protestors.
“This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’ Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately,” Loggins, 77, said in a statement shared with Variety at the time. “I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us. Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together.”
In 2024, Beyoncé also threatened a cease and desist order to the Trump campaign after it used “Freedom” in a video. That song later became former Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign song.
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Swedish band ABBA, rock band Foo Fighters, Olivia Rodrigo and other artists have also demanded the president stop using their music at events or in videos over the years.
One celebrity who has previously expressed support for Trump and his music choices is Kid Rock.
“[Trump’s] got so many good songs playing,” the country singer shared on Fox News in April 2024 when addressing Trump’s music overhead at campaign rallies and events. “It’s a playlist I would play. I’ve heard of ‘House of the Rising Sun.’ I’ve even heard Springsteen songs, you know, Elvis, Elton John, and then there’d be these patriotic tunes.”


