Pop Star Outrage: Sabrina Carpenter Blasts the White House Over Song Use in Controversial Video
Singer and pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has publicly condemned the White House after discovering that her track “Juno” was used in an official social media video. The post, shared Tuesday on the White House’s account on X (formerly Twitter), included dramatic footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents chasing and arresting people, underscored by a snippet from Carpenter’s song. The chosen lyrics — describing intimate moments — struck many as jarringly out of place against the serious visual tone. But here’s where it gets controversial: the government used the song without her consent.
Outraged, Carpenter took to X to denounce the post, calling it “evil and disgusting.” She added a stark message: “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” Her blunt condemnation immediately drew millions of views and a wave of debate online. As of Tuesday, the White House had not issued a statement addressing her criticism. Carpenter’s representatives simply directed media outlets, including NBC News, to her viral post.
This incident is part of a growing pattern of artists clashing with government agencies over unauthorized use of their music and likenesses in official content. It’s not the first time the administration of President Donald Trump has faced such backlash. Just a few months earlier, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came under fire for posting a video that used the iconic “Gotta Catch ’Em All” theme from Pokémon — without Nintendo’s permission. The company quickly clarified it had no involvement with the video and had granted no rights for the music or imagery. Shockingly, that video remained live on DHS’s X account as of this week.
In the same month, another DHS social media post sparked outrage after featuring a clip of comedian Theo Von saying, “Heard you got deported, dude, bye!” Without his consent, the agency had turned his soundbite into what many called a “deportation meme.” Von fired back online, jokingly demanding payment but also insisting they remove the content. “Please keep me out of your ‘banger’ deportation videos,” he wrote, emphasizing that his views on immigration were more nuanced than the portrayal suggested. The DHS eventually removed the video following his complaint.
The controversy didn’t stop there. In October, the rock group MGMT revealed that their song “Little Dark Age” had been used in what they described as a “propaganda video” by DHS. The band immediately filed a takedown request, condemning the agency for the unauthorized use of their music.
Then, in November, pop star Olivia Rodrigo joined the growing list of artists speaking out. After discovering that DHS had paired her hit “all-american b---” with footage of ICE operations, Rodrigo publicly demanded the post’s removal. “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda,” she wrote in a searing Instagram comment — though the comment later disappeared, and the song was removed from the video.
These repeated incidents raise serious questions about respect for artists’ rights and the blurred line between political messaging and propaganda. Is it ethical for government agencies to use pop culture without consent, especially when the context alters the message entirely? And more importantly — should artists have more power to control how their work is used in political communication?
What are your thoughts — do you agree with the artists speaking out, or do you think the agencies are within their rights when posting content to social media? Let's hear your take in the comments.
