Sabrina Carpenter Clashes with White House Over Song Misuse in Controversial ICE Video
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter criticized the White House this week for using her song in an ICE ad without permission. Social internet footage of ICE arresting people while Carpenter’s “Juno” played raised problems. The X caption asked, “Have you tried this one?” Carpenter’s lyrics mean goodbye.
Carpenter immediately protested her work’s theft. She called the video “evil and disgusting” and implored the White House not to use her music for “inhumane agenda.” Over 1.7 million likes and 217,000 reposts showed broad support for her video boycott.
Pressured, the White House deleted the first video. The administration persisted. In defending the post, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson twisted Carpenter’s comments from “Manchild.” Jackson used it to support the administration’s enforcement of dangerous people, drawing criticism.
Carpenter and the White House argued after removing the initial video. After the deletion, the administration released a new video in October with Carpenter hosting “Saturday Night Live,” reigniting issues over using artists’ work for political purposes without authorization.
Intellectual property rights, political propaganda, and artists’ role in public discourse are raised by this incident. Many see Carpenter’s statement as part of a growing trend of celebrities questioning their work’s use, especially in politically sensitive contexts.
The exchange also highlights how political communication must balance creator rights and free expression. The White House can convey its policies, but copyrighted material in disputed statements may bring legal challenges, reputational damage, and pushback.
Public opinion favors Carpenter’s objection to the controversial video, keeping him and the White House in the spotlight. Political bodies that employ creative works in official communications without permission or public sensitivity face harsh sanctions.
Sources:
White House official statements
Public social media posts by Sabrina Carpenter
Analysis of the viral social media response
