The White House has issued a defiant, pun-laden statement after pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter publicly condemned the use of her music in a video promoting deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Carpenter's "Evil and Disgusting" Accusation
On Tuesday 2 December 2025, Sabrina Carpenter launched a fierce criticism of the US administration. The controversy erupted after a video shared by the White House used her track "Juno" to accompany footage depicting ICE agents chasing and arresting individuals. Carpenter did not hold back, labelling the video "evil and disgusting" and demanding her music be disassociated from what she called their "inhumane agenda."
The video's caption, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye," directly referenced a lyric from the song, adding a layer of perceived mockery to the situation.
The White House's "Short n Sweet" Retort
In response, the White House refused to apologise, instead releasing a sharply worded rebuttal. The statement defended the deportation of "dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country." It went further, asking: "Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?"
This exchange marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between the current administration and high-profile artists over the unauthorised use of their work for political messaging.
A Growing Trend of Artist Objections
This incident is not an isolated one. It follows a strikingly similar rebuke from fellow pop star Olivia Rodrigo, who previously criticised the Trump administration for using her song "All-American Bitch" in a Department of Homeland Security deportation video.
Both cases highlight a growing list of musicians who are vocally objecting to their music being co-opted by government agencies without permission, particularly in contexts related to immigration enforcement and deportation policies. The artists' stance frames such use as an endorsement of policies they may fundamentally oppose, turning their art into a tool for political propaganda.
The public clash between a top-tier pop star and the highest office in the United States underscores the potent intersection of celebrity influence, political communication, and artistic control in the modern media landscape.
