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In a controversial move, the White House has sparked criticism after using pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s song “Juno” in a TikTok video highlighting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation activities. The 14-second clip, posted Monday, repurposes a popular segment from Carpenter’s recent Short ‘n Sweet tour for what critics describe as immigration enforcement propaganda.
The video features footage of ICE agents arresting individuals, with close-ups of handcuffs being placed on detainees. The footage is synchronized to Carpenter’s “Juno” and includes her viral tour catchphrase, “Have you ever tried this one?” The caption reads, “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,” accompanied by wave and heart-eyes emojis.
During her recently concluded tour, Carpenter would playfully “arrest” a fan or celebrity from the audience using pink prop handcuffs during performances of “Juno.” The segment became a viral sensation, alongside another moment where she would ask audiences if they wanted to try “freaky positions” before demonstrating unique poses.
This incident marks the second recent case of the White House appropriating popular music for immigration enforcement messaging without apparent artist permission. Just weeks ago, Olivia Rodrigo publicly condemned the Trump administration after the Department of Homeland Security used her song “All-American Bitch” in an Instagram video showing ICE officers detaining and deporting people.
Rodrigo responded forcefully in the comments of that post, writing, “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.” The DHS video had encouraged undocumented individuals to “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CPB Home app,” warning of “consequences” for those who failed to comply.
Carpenter, who publicly supported Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign, joins a growing list of artists objecting to unauthorized use of their music in political contexts. Following publication of the original article, Carpenter reportedly condemned the use of her music in the ICE video.
The trend of politicians using popular music without authorization has accelerated in recent months. Kenny Loggins recently criticized President Trump for using his “Top Gun” hit “Danger Zone” in an AI-generated video depicting the president pouring waste on anti-Trump “No Kings” protesters.
Taylor Swift fans similarly expressed outrage when the White House published a TikTok video set to Swift’s chart-topping single “The Fate of Ophelia” (renamed “The Fate of America” in the video). The clip featured Trump’s mug shot from his election interference case alongside an image of the president kissing an American flag. Swift, an outspoken Harris supporter whom Trump has publicly criticized, has not commented on the usage.
When questioned about the Swift incident, White House representatives took a confrontational stance, telling Variety they created the video specifically to get “fake news media brands” to “breathlessly amplify” their message, adding, “Congrats, you got played.”
These incidents highlight the increasingly contentious intersection of pop culture and politics, where artists’ creative works are being repurposed for political messaging without their consent. The practice raises questions about copyright, artist autonomy, and the ethical use of creative content in political communications, particularly when the message contradicts the artists’ known political positions.
Billboard has reportedly reached out to the White House for clarification on whether they obtained permission from Carpenter to use her music in the ICE video.
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16 Comments
Repurposing a lighthearted tour moment to promote deportations is concerning. The White House should be more thoughtful about the cultural impact of its messaging, especially on sensitive issues like immigration enforcement.
Exactly. This video comes across as tone-deaf and fails to acknowledge the very real human consequences of deportation. The White House would do better to engage the public on this topic in a more nuanced, empathetic way.
While I understand the White House’s goal of reaching younger audiences, using Sabrina Carpenter’s song in this way feels inappropriate and insensitive. Deportation is a serious issue with significant human consequences, and the White House should be more mindful of this in its messaging.
I agree. This video comes across as a tone-deaf attempt to make immigration enforcement appear lighthearted. The White House should find more thoughtful and empathetic ways to communicate on this complex topic.
The White House’s use of Sabrina Carpenter’s song to promote ICE deportations is concerning. Repurposing an artist’s work without permission raises ethical questions and risks trivializing a complex issue with very real human impacts. A more nuanced communication strategy would be advisable.
Absolutely. The White House should reconsider this approach and find ways to engage the public on immigration policy that are more considerate and reflective of the gravity of the issue.
While the White House may have intended this as a creative way to reach younger audiences, using a pop song in this context trivializes a complex issue. I hope they reconsider this approach and find more thoughtful ways to communicate on immigration policy.
I agree, this video seems like a misguided attempt to make immigration enforcement appear lighthearted. The White House should be more mindful of the real human impacts and avoid using pop culture in this way.
The White House’s use of Sabrina Carpenter’s song to promote ICE deportations is concerning. Repurposing an artist’s work without permission raises ethical questions and risks trivializing a complex issue. I hope they reconsider this approach.
Absolutely. This video comes across as insensitive and fails to acknowledge the very real human consequences of deportation. The White House should find more thoughtful ways to communicate on immigration policy.
While I understand the White House’s intent to reach younger audiences, using a pop song to promote ICE deportations is misguided. This approach risks trivializing a complex issue and raises concerns about the appropriation of an artist’s work. A more nuanced communication strategy would be advisable.
I agree, the White House’s use of Sabrina Carpenter’s song in this context is troubling. Deportation has significant human impacts, and the White House should communicate on this topic with greater care and sensitivity.
This video seems like a questionable attempt by the White House to leverage pop culture for immigration enforcement messaging. Repurposing an artist’s work without permission raises ethical concerns and risks trivializing a complex issue. A more thoughtful approach would be advisable.
Exactly. The White House should reconsider this strategy and find ways to communicate on immigration policy that are more nuanced and considerate of the very real human impacts of deportation.
This seems like a questionable use of a pop song to promote ICE deportations. Appropriating an artist’s work without permission raises ethical concerns. I hope the White House reconsiders this approach to avoid further controversy.
I agree, using Sabrina Carpenter’s song in this way feels disrespectful and manipulative. The White House should find more appropriate ways to communicate its immigration policies.