Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has unleashed a scathing rebuke against the White House, labeling their actions as 'evil and disgusting' after discovering her song Juno was used in a controversial ICE detention video. But here's where it gets controversial... While the Trump administration defends the video as a necessary measure to highlight the removal of dangerous criminals, Carpenter and her fans argue it's a gross misuse of her art to promote what they see as an inhumane agenda. And this is the part most people miss: this isn't the first time the Trump administration has faced backlash for using music without permission, raising questions about artistic rights and political messaging.
The 21-second clip, posted on the White House's official X account, shows individuals being handcuffed and pursued, all while a repetitive loop of Carpenter's lyrics, 'Have you ever tried this one?' plays in the background. The post's caption, 'Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,' accompanied by a waving hand and heart-eye emoji, struck many as callous and tone-deaf. Carpenter, 26, responded swiftly on December 2, declaring, 'Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.'
Her fans rallied behind her, with comments like, 'Copyright strike it, queen!' and 'Cease and desist their ass, boo!' Others urged legal action, with one fan exclaiming, 'SUE the living F out of them!!' Amid the outcry, one supporter praised, 'Thank you for standing up for human rights and democracy, Sabrina. We love you and support you!'
Here’s the kicker: When contacted for comment, a White House representative doubled down, stating, 'We won't apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.' They even invoked lyrics from Carpenter's song Manchild, adding, 'Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?'
This incident comes on the heels of a similar controversy involving Carpenter's friend, Taylor Swift. Just weeks ago, Swift faced calls to sue the Trump administration after her song The Fate of Ophelia was repurposed in a White House TikTok video, with lyrics altered to 'the fate of America.' But here's the real question: Is this a matter of political expression, or a blatant disregard for artists' rights? And should musicians have more control over how their work is used in political contexts?
History repeats itself, as Trump faced legal action last year for using the song 'Hold On, I'm Coming' by Sam and Dave during his campaign events. A federal judge in Atlanta ordered Trump to cease using the song while the co-writer's family pursued a copyright lawsuit. The estate of Isaac Hayes Jr., who co-wrote the 1966 hit, claimed Trump and his allies violated their copyright and demanded damages. Though Trump's campaign agreed to stop using the song, the judge declined to force the removal of existing videos featuring it.
Now, we want to hear from you: Do you think artists should have the final say in how their music is used politically? Or is it fair game for public figures to repurpose songs to convey their messages? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over!
