Sabrina Carpenter Condemns White House for Using Her Song in ICE Video

Key Points

• Sabrina Carpenter criticizes the White House for using her song “Juno” in a video promoting ICE operations.
• Carpenter calls the video “evil and disgusting,” saying her music was used without permission.
• White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responds with a statement referencing Carpenter’s lyrics.
• Other artists, including Olivia Rodrigo and Semisonic, have recently objected to similar uses of their music.
• The dispute adds to a growing pattern of musicians pushing back against political use of their work.

Sabrina Carpenter Speaks Out Against White House ICE Video

Sabrina Carpenter is publicly denouncing the White House after her song “Juno” was featured in a video promoting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. The clip, posted Monday on the official White House X account, used a play on one of Carpenter’s well‑known lyrical bits to accompany footage of ICE officers detaining immigrants across the country.

Carpenter responded the following day, sharply criticizing the administration’s use of her music.

“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” she wrote.

How the Video Used Carpenter’s Music

The White House video repurposed Carpenter’s “have you ever tried this one” line from “Juno,” pairing it with scenes of ICE agents pursuing and arresting individuals. The post quickly drew backlash online, prompting questions about whether the administration had sought permission to use the track.

When asked for clarification, the White House issued a pointed response filled with references to Carpenter’s song titles and lyrics.

White House Responds With Lyric‑Based Statement

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the video and criticized Carpenter’s remarks.

“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. “Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”

The statement did not address whether the administration obtained rights to use the song.

Other Artists Have Raised Similar Objections

Carpenter joins a growing list of musicians objecting to the administration’s use of their work.

• Olivia Rodrigo condemned the White House last month for using “All-American Bitch” in a video encouraging immigrants to self‑deport.
• Semisonic criticized the administration for using “Closing Time,” saying officials “missed the point entirely.”
• Jack White and The White Stripes sued the Trump campaign in 2024 over unauthorized use of “Seven Nation Army,” later dropping the suit but continuing to publicly criticize the administration.

The repeated disputes highlight ongoing tensions between artists and political entities over music licensing and messaging.

What Happens Next?

It remains unclear whether Carpenter will pursue legal action or whether the White House will continue using her music in future posts. As more artists speak out, the conflict over unauthorized political use of popular songs is likely to intensify, potentially prompting renewed scrutiny of digital campaign practices.