Sabrina Carpenter Condemns Trump campaign’s Use of her Music in ICE Video
LOS ANGELES – Singer-songwriter Sabrina Carpenter has publicly denounced the Trump campaign for utilizing her song in a video promoting the CBP Home app, an initiative aimed at encouraging self-deportation among undocumented migrants. Carpenter issued a statement asserting she does not consent to her work being associated with the campaign’s policies, stating, “Never involve me for the benefit of your inhumane agenda.”
The incident adds to a growing list of artists objecting to the Trump campaign’s unauthorized use of their music. The one-minute video, released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), featured Carpenter’s music alongside imagery intended to promote the CBP Home app – a platform critics say falsely promises a streamlined path to voluntary departure. Carpenter’s rebuke highlights a broader concern among musicians about the political appropriation of their art and the potential for it to be used to legitimize policies they oppose.
this is not an isolated event. Over the past several years,numerous prominent musicians,including Olivia Rodrigo,Rihanna,Pharrell Williams,Neil Young,and the Rolling Stones,have publicly criticized Trump for deploying their songs at rallies or in campaign materials without permission.These artists have argued that the use of their music implies endorsement of policies they actively condemn, particularly those related to immigration and social justice. Legal experts note that while there isn’t a clear-cut legal precedent preventing political campaigns from using licensed music, the resulting public backlash often carries notable reputational costs. Carpenter’s statement underscores the increasing willingness of artists to leverage their platforms to challenge political messaging they deem harmful or unethical.
