Sabrina Carpenter Slams Trump’s White House for Using ‘Juno’ in ICE Raids Video: ‘Evil and Disgusting… Do Not Involve Me in Your Inhumane Agenda’

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has issued a forceful condemnation after the Trump administration used her chart-topping single "Juno" in a promotional video highlighting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The Grammy-winning artist, known for hits like "Feather" and "Nonsense," took to social media platform X to denounce the footage, which intersperses lyrics from her song with scenes of immigrants being detained. "This video is evil and disgusting," Carpenter stated. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda."

The incident marks the latest in a pattern of the White House appropriating music from artists who are politically opposed to the former president. The controversial edit specifically leverages the song's viral line—"Have you ever tried this one?"—layering it over imagery of individuals being handcuffed and subdued by federal agents. This tactic of using pop anthems to frame enforcement actions has drawn consistent criticism from the music industry, highlighting a stark disconnect between the artists' messages and the government's narrative.

Carpenter is not the first major artist to find her work co-opted in this manner. Her frequent collaborator and friend Taylor Swift was similarly targeted last November when her track "The Fate of Ophelia" soundtracked a montage celebrating Trump, despite his history of publicly criticizing the superstar. Swift, whose record-breaking Eras Tour has been a cultural and economic phenomenon, chose not to publicly address that particular usage. The strategy has prompted legal and ethical questions about the unauthorized use of copyrighted material for political messaging.

Other musicians have been vocal in their objections. In October, rock legend Kenny Loggins demanded the removal of his iconic song "Danger Zone" from a video that depicted Trump flying over protesters. "I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us," Loggins told Variety. Similarly, British singer Jess Glynne reacted with disgust last summer when her hit "Hold My Hand" was used to promote ICE operations, stating her music is fundamentally "about love, unity, and spreading positivity." These repeated clashes suggest the administration views such music as free promotional content, a perspective that experts say ignores both copyright law and artistic intent. As one music industry attorney noted, "This is a deliberate provocation, leveraging an artist's platform to lend a false sense of cultural endorsement to controversial policies."

The ongoing disputes underscore a broader tension between political entities and cultural creators. For artists like Carpenter, whose work often explores personal empowerment and relationships, the unauthorized association with immigration enforcement raids represents a profound distortion of their art's purpose. As these incidents accumulate, they set a concerning precedent for the manipulation of creative expression in the political arena, potentially chilling artist engagement on public issues.