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Sabrina Carpenter is calling out the Trump White House after discovering that her hit song "Juno" was used to soundtrack a government video promoting ICE raids. The clip, posted across official White House social media pages, features footage of people being chased, detained and handcuffed by ICE agents — all edited over the viral "Have you ever tried this one?" lyric from her chart-topping single.
Carpenter, who has repeatedly spoken about wanting her music associated with joy rather than cruelty, reacted sharply on X. "This video is evil and disgusting," she wrote. "Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda." Her post immediately went viral, igniting a wave of online criticism accusing the administration of trivializing suffering through meme-style editing.
The White House responded with a short, pun-filled message referencing Carpenter's Short n' Sweet album, saying it would not apologize for deporting what it described as "dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles." Critics online accused the administration of misrepresenting ICE actions while sidestepping Carpenter's central issue — the unauthorized use of her work.
Carpenter's fans quickly pointed out the irony of the song choice. On tour, "Juno" became known for a playful skit in which the pop star "arrested" an audience member or celebrity with pink prop handcuffs for being "too hot." That comedic moment, built on camp and flirtation, has now been reframed in a context many described as disturbing.
The controversy follows a pattern. Musicians including Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, Jess Glynne and Olivia Rodrigo have all publicly criticized the Trump administration for using their music in political videos without consent. Each incident has sparked online backlash, with commenters accusing the government of intentionally leveraging popular songs to provoke outrage and engagement.
Reaction to the Carpenter video was swift: "Why are we making Sabrina Carpenter edits out of people's lives being destroyed?" one TikTok user asked. Another wrote, "She made 'Juno' for people creating families, not tearing them apart." As artists continue pushing back, the dispute raises a recurring question about where political messaging ends, and cultural appropriation begins.
