Sabrina Carpenter is pushing back against the White House after discovering that her hit “Juno” was used in a government-produced deportation clip. The singer said she had no idea her track was included and made it clear she wants no connection to federal messaging around immigration enforcement.
Carpenter Responds Online
Carpenter issued a sharp statement Tuesday on X, calling the video “evil and disgusting” and telling officials, “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
The video, posted Monday, features footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations set to Carpenter’s song. It ends with a line pulled from the “Juno” lyrics: “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye.”
The mashup prompted immediate blowback from fans and advocates who questioned why the administration used a pop track without consent to score a deportation montage.
White House Defends the Video
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson pushed back, issuing her own statement aimed directly at Carpenter. “We won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country,” Jackson wrote. She added that anyone opposed to that messaging “must be stupid, or is it slow?”
The exchange underscored the administration’s growing reliance on social media content to promote its immigration priorities, even when those posts feature popular songs that artists say they never approved.
Artists Keep Objecting
Carpenter is the latest musician to criticize federal officials for using their work without permission. Several high-profile performers have voiced objections in recent months as immigration videos circulate online with chart-topping music layered over them.
In October, Kenny Loggins denounced the use of “Danger Zone” in an AI-generated video shared on Donald Trump’s Truth Social account. That clip depicted Trump dropping waste on protesters, sparking outrage across political lines. Loggins said “nobody asked” to license the song and demanded it be removed. Despite the objection, the recording remains on the platform.
Olivia Rodrigo also objected last month when her track “All-American Bitch” appeared in a Department of Homeland Security–aligned video urging undocumented immigrants to self-deport. She responded directly in the comments section of the Instagram post: “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
A Larger Fight Over Music Rights
As government agencies lean on short-form media to push policy, artists say their work is being pulled into political messaging they never endorsed. For performers with large queer and young audiences, these posts risk creating an impression that they support immigration crackdowns or broader partisan agendas.
Carpenter has not indicated whether she plans further action, but her public statement reflects a growing trend: musicians want a clear line between their art and government videos, especially those tied to deportation.
