By Matija Šerić
We all know very well that Donald Trump is an unconventional politician willing to make unexpected moves, but day by day the American president continues to shock the public with his bizarre decisions. Since he first became recognized as a celebrity himself (a real estate tycoon and tabloid star) during the 1980s—long before his political career—celebrities often end up in his crosshairs. This time, he has turned his attention to one of the most popular American singers and songwriters, Sabrina Carpenter.
“Juno” – from an erotic song to a deportation anthem
To be 100 percent precise, the president did not attack her directly through his own profile, but through the official White House account on X (formerly Twitter). However, such an action cannot occur without approval from the highest level. On Monday, December 1, Trump’s office published a video clip showing agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting several people (allegedly illegal immigrants) in Chicago while Carpenter’s megahit “Juno” plays in the background. More specifically, the chorus “Have you ever tried this one” was turned into an on-screen caption with accompanying emojis, and a new line, “Bye-bye,” was added.
In the song, the line refers to sexual positions (which Carpenter often demonstrates at her concerts), while in the White House video it refers to the positions people are placed in while being arrested by ICE agents. Observers film the arrests on their phones as the song plays in the background.
The singer fires back, and the White House refuses to apologize
The administration did not have to wait long for a response from the pop star, who wrote the very next day, December 2, on X: “This video is evil and disgusting. Never include me or my music to promote your inhumane agenda.”
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson responded on December 3: “Here’s a short and clear message for Sabrina Carpenter: we will not apologize for deporting dangerous criminals, illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country. Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid… or slow?”
Jackson again referenced the 26-year-old singer-songwriter’s music, specifically the song “Manchild” from her latest album Man’s Best Friend, released in August. The White House later deleted the controversial video, but Carpenter’s response remains visible.
Feud explained
The Trump team keeps firing
The administration’s refusal to apologize was made clear again on Friday, December 5. The White House posted an edited clip from Carpenter’s recent appearance on the TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL), where she said: “I think I’m going to have to arrest someone for being too attractive,” but the word “too attractive” was replaced with “illegal.”
Carpenter stood next to SNL star Marcello Hernández, an American whose parents are from Cuba and the Dominican Republic. He extended his hands as if ready for handcuffs and said, “Well, I surrender.”
The video then showed footage of federal agents apprehending people, while Gucci Mane’s “I Get the Bag” played in the background. All in all, a very nasty video that clearly spreads hostility toward members of the Latino population. Although Hernández is legally in the U.S.—he was born in Miami and is a television star—the video suggests that almost no Latino is safe from arrest and deportation.
Trump maximizes his use of social media
Trump is, as always, active on social media. Now in his second term, he is perhaps even more active than in his first, since all his accounts have been restored—a fact he intends to exploit to the fullest. Almost daily, members of the president’s PR team publish short video clips featuring popular songs to showcase their boss fulfilling his campaign promises. One of those promises is stopping illegal immigration.
Harsh enforcement of anti-immigration policy
This is an agenda that Trump has enforced aggressively from his first day in the Oval Office. Arrests take place in Hispanic neighborhoods, at courthouses, and raids are conducted on apartments where illegal immigrants allegedly stay, with many ending up imprisoned and/or deported. In these efforts—at least formally—Trump has deployed the National Guard to certain cities. In reality, he sent the Guard into Democrat-controlled cities to demonstrate his power more than to suppress illegal immigration.
By September 23, according to U.S. government data, about two million illegal immigrants had left the U.S.: 400,000 deported by federal agencies and 1.6 million through self-deportation.
On November 29, Trump’s administration announced a total freeze on asylum decisions, leaving 1.5 million people seeking residence in legal limbo. Trump vowed to “permanently pause” migration from “Third World countries,” in response to a shooting in which two National Guard members in Washington D.C. were wounded by a suspect who is an Afghan national.
Additionally, more than 80 people have been killed along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts near the U.S. They were killed by the U.S. Navy under the pretext that they were smuggling drugs and illegal migrants. Numerous critics have spoken out against Trump’s policies—not only Democrats but also some Republicans (e.g., Marjorie Taylor Greene). Even Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Catholic Church have weighed in. Polls show that most Americans believe the deportations have “gone too far.”
The backlash
The short clips may have amused some of Trump’s fans, but experts and everyday social media users criticized Trump’s administration for unauthorized use of Carpenter’s music and for completely distorting its meaning.
“Why are we making Sabrina Carpenter edits while people’s lives are being destroyed?” one person commented. Another replied: “This is simply embarrassing to watch.” A third added: “Hey, just so you know, Sabrina made ‘Juno’ for people who build families, not for those tearing them apart.”
A backlash emerged—one that does not work in Trump’s favor.
War of words
Resistance from the music industry
Carpenter joined a list of more than twenty musicians—including Beyoncé, Neil Young, Jack White, Kenny Loggins, and The Rolling Stones—who have opposed the president’s use of their music.
Last month, pop star Olivia Rodrigo harshly criticized the government after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security posted a video on Instagram using her song “All-American Bitch” to promote its deportation operations. In the comments, Rodrigo wrote: “Never use my songs to promote your racist, hate-filled propaganda.” Her comment was later removed, but Instagram also removed the song from the video.
In November, Trump used Taylor Swift’s song “The Fate of Ophelia” on TikTok (renamed as “The Fate of America”) in a clip promoting border security. The megastar did not comment, while fans called for a lawsuit—an unlikely scenario, since anyone can use any music they want in their videos.
The meaning of the conflict
It is logical to ask what the point and ultimate outcome of the conflict between the American president and the musical sensation from Pennsylvania might be. In general, what does Donald Trump want to achieve by clashing with celebrities who are not his supporters? A simplified conclusion is this: Trump craves recognition from celebrities because he is one himself.
Although he became president, he still considers himself part of the world of the famous—singers, actors, athletes, hosts… They are all wealthy, successful, and good-looking, which is why their approval is important to him. The world of celebrities is part of the president’s identity.
However, Trump and his MAGA agenda have little support in celebrity circles, which is unsurprising given the predominantly liberal and progressive orientation that prevails in Hollywood, Nashville, LA, and other centers of the American entertainment industry. As an ego-driven person, Trump is clearly bothered by this and would like to change it.
It was hard for him when Bruce Springsteen, publicly criticized him. He struggles similarly with criticism from others, and now that includes Carpenter, who has dominated the music world over the past year, winning Grammys and completing a wildly successful “Short n’ Sweet” tour.
Bruce Springsteen slams Trump
The pros and cons of the Trump–Carpenter conflict
Beyond all this, the feud with Carpenter and other celebrities helps Trump divert attention from other pressing issues, such as his failure to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, the dangerous state of the U.S. economy, and the intense national polarization evident in the recent victory of radical leftist Zohran Mamdani in New York.
Trump’s team has now targeted Carpenter because she previously criticized him, even though she rarely delves into politics. The clash between the president and the singer is interesting to the public, but in the long run it brings Trump more harm than benefit, because he ends up doing things that are in poor taste. Still, the feud between two celebrities won’t decide any political battle.
On the other hand, for Sabrina Carpenter, a public feud with Trump is not necessarily bad, as she will gain even more support from her fans. The young singer is rapidly rising, and fans will buy more CDs, vinyls, and attend more concerts. Unfortunately, it could put her at risk from certain MAGA radicals who might target her.
Nevertheless, despite the benefits and drawbacks of her conflict with the president, Carpenter is simply doing her job—protecting her artistic work—while Trump is engaging in unnecessary battles and attacking one of the most influential American artists who significantly contributes to the U.S.’s soft power in the world. And that is the most important point in this entire story.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/dec/02/sabrina-carpenter-ice-video
https://time.com/7338216/trump-white-house-social-media-music-artists-copyright-sabrina-carpenter/
