Pop culture meets politics — but this time, it’s causing outrage. The Trump White House has stirred up controversy once again after turning a lighthearted stage moment from Sabrina Carpenter’s popular “Juno” performance into a piece of ICE propaganda. And this is the part that’s raising eyebrows across the internet.
A new TikTok video shared by the White House shows ICE agents seeming to arrest undocumented individuals, set to Carpenter’s song “Juno.” The clip mirrors Carpenter’s viral concert moment where she jokingly “arrested” fans using pink toy handcuffs — a fun, theatrical bit that became a hallmark of her Short ‘n Sweet tour. But in this political remix, the playful context is gone, replaced by footage of real detentions. Carpenter took to X on Tuesday (Dec. 2) to denounce the video, calling it “evil and disgusting,” adding that her art should never be used to “benefit an inhumane agenda.”
The now-viral White House TikTok, posted on Dec. 1, lasts just 14 seconds but packs in a lot of shock value. It shows multiple arrests, handcuff close-ups, and confrontations between ICE officers and bystanders recording on their phones — all synced to Carpenter’s provocative lyric, “Have you ever tried this one?” The caption reads: “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye [wave heart eyes emoji].” Billboard has reportedly reached out to confirm whether the White House obtained permission to use her music.
But here’s where it gets even more controversial. This isn’t the first time the administration has been accused of hijacking pop songs for political messaging. Just weeks earlier, Olivia Rodrigo erupted online after her track “All-American Bitch” was used by the Department of Homeland Security in another ICE-themed post. That clip showcased migrants being detained and deported, accompanied by the caption: “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CPB Home app. If you don’t, you will face consequences.” Rodrigo slammed the stunt as “racist, hateful propaganda.”
Carpenter, who has openly supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, joins a growing list of artists outraged by Trump’s team using their work without consent. In recent months, musicians like Kenny Loggins and Taylor Swift have also found their music repurposed in bizarre political edits. Loggins, for instance, criticized a viral video that used his Top Gun anthem “Danger Zone” over an AI-generated clip of Trump symbolically dumping waste on protesters. Meanwhile, Swifties were incensed by a TikTok that paired Swift’s single “The Fate of Ophelia” — rebranded as “The Fate of America” — with Trump’s mugshot and patriotic imagery. While Swift hasn’t publicly commented, her fans and the media have largely condemned the move.
In response to criticism, a White House representative seemed almost gleeful, claiming these videos are crafted specifically to bait the media into amplifying their message — “Congrats, you got played,” they said in a statement to Variety. To some, that’s a clever communications strategy. To others, it’s a manipulative use of art and misinformation.
So where do you stand on this? Should political entities ever be allowed to use an artist’s work — parody or not — without their consent? Or is it all just part of the game in today’s social-media-driven landscape? Share your take in the comments — this debate is only getting louder.
