The White House has repurposed a song by Sabrina Carpenter for a new TikTok video promoting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, co-opting a track known for a playful fan-favorite moment on the singer’s recent tour.
The song, “Juno,” was a staple of Carpenter’s Short ‘n Sweet tour, where each night she would jokingly “arrest” a fan or celebrity with fuzzy pink handcuffs while singing, “Wanna try out some freaky positions? Have you ever tried … this one?”
On Monday, a video posted to the official White House account used “Juno” as a soundtrack for footage of a protest against ICE raids, which then transitions to a montage of ICE agents detaining undocumented immigrants. The caption repurposed Carpenter’s lyrics, reading, “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye.” It is unclear if the White House received permission to use the music.
This incident follows a pattern by the Trump administration of using songs by artists who have not endorsed their politics. Last month, Olivia Rodrigo criticized the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for featuring her song “All-American Bitch” in a video about self-deportation. In a comment that was later deleted, the singer wrote, “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.”
Similarly, the administration has used Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” in a slideshow celebrating Donald Trump, despite Swift being a vocal critic who endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.
Throughout his campaign, Trump has drawn objections from numerous artists for using their music. Musicians from Céline Dion to the estate of Isaac Hayes have issued public statements and sent cease-and-desist letters demanding he stop.
Representatives for Carpenter and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
