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Only in 2025 would the government use a catchy pop song and still miss the mark. If the White House wanted a catchy soundtrack for their Spotify playlists, Sabrina Carpenter is not the right choice. Carpenter’s music might be dominating our Spotify Wrapped, but her songs do not exist to soften political cruelty. The Trump Administration turned “Juno” into an enforcement jingle. However, this would cause a PR disaster that not even the best music producer could fix. 

On December 1, 2025, the White House posted a video on X of people getting chased and tackled to the ground by ICE agents. In response to the video, Sabrina Carpenter replied, saying, “This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music in your inhumane agenda.” By speaking out, Carpenter highlighted a growing issue: artists’ work constantly being used as a political tool without consent, often to brush over actions that carry real human consequences. 

Sadly, Carpenter is not the only artist the current Administration has used as a backdrop for their cruel videos. They have used artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Kenny Loggins in their videos, and both artists have spoken out publicly against the administration’s use of their music.  While I understand they are trying to connect with their audience, the White House should have known these artists would not like their music used for propaganda.

What makes this situation more controversial is that Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, responded to Carpenter’s comment, saying, “Here is a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminals, illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?” 

By doubling down on the video, the White House made this post into a much bigger issue. Instead of explaining their policy or addressing why people were upset, they attacked a celebrity whose intention was never to start a political fight.

The fallout raises a larger issue about how the White House communicates with the public. By using popular songs to push a harsh immigration agenda, the administration exposes a significant disconnect with its supporters. When they then attack the artist, it highlights an even greater misunderstanding of media, culture, and public opinion. 

Moments like this reveal why political messaging cannot rely on viral TikTok trends or catchy songs. People notice when the government tries to use pop culture as a shield for actions that many people may view as harmful. This becomes clear when artists speak out, showing the difference between the administration trying to seem relatable and the reality of its policies. 

If we learned anything from this situation, it is the administration’s bad attempt to use someone’s own music for their own pleasure. They tried to use Carpenter’s song to make their policy look playful, but it only exposed how out of sync their messaging truly is. If the Trump Administration wants to be taken seriously, then they need to communicate seriously instead of solely relying on pop songs to get likes and views.

Acknowledgment: The ideas expressed in this article are those of the individual author.