The film, issued by the White House on Monday, featured Carpenter’s 2024 hit song “Juno.” It depicted federal immigration enforcement police chasing people and detaining them while onlookers videotaped the activity on their mobile phones. The caption reads, “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye” – in a nod to lyrics in the song – decorated with emoticons. Carpenter, 25, remarked on X, “This video is evil and disgusting.” “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said: “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. Anyone who would support these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?” Carpenter, a Grammy Award-winning singer, joins the list of more than two dozen musicians, including Neil Young and The Rolling Stones, who have protested to President Donald Trump’s usage of their music. Trump, currently in his second non-consecutive term, maintains an active social media presence. His communications staff frequently shares brief movies using well-known tunes to highlight the president’s attempts to fulfill his campaign pledges.
The footage released on Monday seemed to support the administration’s vigorous efforts to combat illegal immigration since the start of his second term in January. Critics, including Pope Leo, have taken issue with the way in which the Trump administration has sought to carry out its immigration agenda, including arrests at courthouses, on street corners of Hispanic neighborhoods and raids of apartment buildings where those suspected of being in the U.S. illegally
