White House Refuses to Apologize After Sabrina Carpenter Slams Use of Her Music
The White House is standing firm after pop star Sabrina Carpenter criticized the administration for using one of her songs in a video she described as promoting an “inhumane agenda.”
On Tuesday, the White House posted a video showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests, with Carpenter’s song Juno playing in the background. Carpenter took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice her outrage:
“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
White House Doubles Down
Instead of apologizing, the White House defended its decision. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Newsweek:
“Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.”
Jackson also referenced Carpenter’s own lyrics from her song Man Child, in which she sings: “Is it stupid, or is it slow?”
“Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?” Jackson added.
Not the First Celebrity Backlash
This isn’t the first time the White House has faced criticism for using a pop song in a social media post. In July, British singer Jess Glynne publicly condemned the White House for using her song Hold My Hand in a video referencing deportations via Jet2 flights.
Glynne wrote on Instagram:
“This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate.”
Other artists, including ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, Guns N’ Roses, Celine Dion, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Beyoncé, and Adele, have also spoken out against the White House’s unauthorized use of their music.
Context: Trump’s Immigration Policies
The backlash comes amid President Trump’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. Since taking office, Trump has vowed to deport individuals accused of being murderers, drug dealers, sex offenders, and even terrorists residing in the United States.
He has also appointed new ICE agents tasked with identifying, detaining, and deporting these individuals across the country, which has fueled heightened attention on the administration’s controversial social media messaging.
