Sabrina Carpenter Becomes Latest Artist to Push Back Against Trump Admin Co-Opting Music

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In a new move, the Trump Administration is using popular culture to share its message. On Tuesday, the White House posted a video on social media showing ICE agents detaining immigrants, and it included audio of pop singer Sabrina Carpenter asking, “Have you ever tried this one?” This appears to be part of a larger effort to connect with people through familiar pop-culture references.

Carpenter strongly disapproved of the White House’s actions and responded to their post on X, calling the video “evil and disgusting.” They also demanded that their music not be used to support what they described as an inhumane agenda.

As of Wednesday, the White House has left a video and its audio online. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson referenced singer Sabrina Carpenter’s 2024 album when issuing a statement that said, in part: “We will not apologize for removing dangerous criminals – including those who have committed murder, rape, and pedophilia – from our country. Anyone defending such individuals is either foolish or slow to understand.”

During Donald Trump’s second term as president, the White House and other federal agencies started using popular music, internet memes, and even images created by artificial intelligence on their official social media accounts.

In July, the White House’s account on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out that the Constitution doesn’t forbid posting popular or funny memes.

Carpenter isn’t the first artist to protest when her work is used to support political views she opposes, and she probably won’t be the last.

Unwilling participants in political messaging

Artists have often protested Donald Trump’s use of their music during his campaigns and presidency. However, his administration has continued to feature popular artists’ songs in videos, even when those artists have publicly opposed him.

Although it can be expensive and complicated to fight the unauthorized use of a song in court, many artists are choosing to publicly speak out about it to let their fans know where they stand politically.

Okay, so this is wild. Olivia Rodrigo, you know, the singer TIME named Entertainer of the Year a while back, totally called out the Department of Homeland Security last month. Apparently, they used her song, “All-American Bitch,” in a video trying to get undocumented immigrants to leave the country. She was not happy, posting on Instagram that they should never use her music for their “racist, hateful propaganda.” And get this – the DHS actually responded, quoting back at her lyrics from the same song! They basically told her to thank law enforcement instead of, you know, criticizing them. It’s a whole thing, and honestly, it’s a pretty interesting clash between an artist and a government agency.

Last month, singer Kenny Loggins publicly objected to Donald Trump using his 1986 hit song, “Danger Zone,” in a video posted to Truth Social without permission. The video showed Trump flying a jet labeled “KING TRUMP,” wearing a crown, and seemingly dropping waste on people in New York City – a response to protests against him. The video is still available on Trump’s Truth Social account.

Loggins stated he didn’t give anyone permission to use his song and would have refused if asked, and he wants it removed from the video immediately. When NPR asked the White House about the song’s use, they responded with a photo of Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards from the movie Top Gun, along with the text, “I feel the need for speed.”

That same month, the band MGMT successfully requested the removal of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) video from X (formerly Twitter). The video showed federal agents arresting protestors against ICE and used MGMT’s song “Little Dark Age” with the caption, “End of the Dark Age, beginning of the Golden Age.” MGMT filed a copyright claim under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), and the video was taken down on X. It’s still available on Instagram, but the audio has been removed.

The band Blue Öyster Cult responded to Donald Trump’s use of their 1976 song, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” in a video he posted. The AI-generated video showed Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, as the Grim Reaper, suggesting he would fire federal workers and close agencies considered ‘Democratic’ during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The band stated they weren’t asked for permission to use their song and that Sony Music owns the copyright. The video is still available on Trump’s Truth Social platform.

British singer Jess Glynne was upset to learn that her 2015 hit song, “Hold My Hand,” was used in a White House video promoting deportations this July. The song had recently become popular again online. Glynne stated she was “sick” and “devastated” because the video’s message of “division and hate” was the opposite of what her song represents – love, support, and hope. Jet2, the airline that featured the song in a viral holiday ad (which was the audio used in the White House video), also expressed their disappointment, clarifying that they did not approve of their brand being associated with the government’s policy.

While many artists have spoken out, some have remained quiet about how their songs are being used. For example, Taylor Swift, TIME’s 2023 Person of the Year, is usually very protective of her music and previously criticized Donald Trump for suggesting she supported him. However, she hasn’t commented on the fact that songs from her recent album, The Life of a Showgirl, were used in materials released by the White House.

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2025-12-03 13:07