Musicians Resist Trump Administration's Use of Their Music

Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter attended the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on September 7, 2025.

On Tuesday, the White House shared a social media video showing ICE agents apprehending immigrants, paired with Carpenters voice asking, Have you ever tried this one? This appears to be part of a broader effort by the Trump Administration to incorporate pop culture references into its messaging. Carpenter, however, strongly opposed the use of her music. She responded on X, calling the video evil and disgusting and urging the administration not to involve her work to promote what she described as an inhumane agenda.

The White House has not removed the video or its audio. A spokesperson, Abigail Jackson, told TIME: Heres a Short n Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter, referencing the singers 2024 album. The statement defended deportations of criminals and criticized anyone supporting them, asserting that they must be stupid, or is it slow?

During Trumps second term, the White House and other federal agencies have frequently used pop songs, memes, and AI-generated imagery on official accounts. In July, the White Houses X account posted, Nowhere in the Constitution does it say we cant post banger memes. Carpenter is among several artists who have objected publicly when their work was used for political purposes without consent.

Previous artists who raised objections include:

• Olivia Rodrigo, who criticized the Department of Homeland Security for using her 2023 song All-American Bitch in a video urging immigrants to self-deport, calling it racist, hateful propaganda.
• Kenny Loggins, who objected to an AI-generated video on Truth Social using his 1986 hit Danger Zone featuring Trump in a satirical scenario. Loggins demanded its immediate removal.
• MGMT, who successfully removed a DHS video using their 2017 song Little Dark Age after a DMCA takedown request.
• Blue yster Cult, whose 1976 song (Dont Fear) The Reaper was used in an AI video depicting federal layoffs. The band clarified they were not consulted and that their copyright is fully owned by Sony Music.
• Jess Glynne, whose 2015 hit Hold My Hand was used to promote deportations. She expressed feeling sick and devastated, emphasizing the songs message of love and support contradicts the White Houses use.

Some artists have remained silent, including Taylor Swift, despite her music from her latest album The Life of a Showgirl being used in White House materials. Swift has previously objected publicly to unauthorized use of her work, including past references to Trump implying her endorsement.

Author: Noah Whitman