Divisive US President Donald Trump is making more enemies in the entertainment industry, including the likes of SZA and Sabrina Carpenter.

From campaign rallies to social media posts, the White House team has been using pop music to soundtrack their online activities. Many of these include celebratory montages of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arresting individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants. 

Under Trump’s second term, these arrests have increased as he’s overseen the boost in ICE’s deportation numbers through an increase in immigration raids nationwide. 

Many people swept up in the raids have been later revealed to have been wrongfully arrested, detained and deported by ICE. The individuals are US citizens with correct visas or valid asylum claims. Furthermore, up to three-quarters of detainees this fiscal year have no criminal history, according to the Cato Institute.

Here are just some of the artists and celebrities who have called out Trump’s White House for using their tracks:

SZA

SZA is the most recent artist to slam Trump’s White House social team for featuring her music in propaganda posts.

The White House shared a TikTok clip featuring a montage of ICE officers chasing and handcuffing people.

“We heard it’s cuffing szn…” the White House wrote alongside the clip, which was soundtracked by SZA’s viral novelty song “Big Boys”. The track was originally performed by the star alongside Keke Palmer on SNL in 2022.

As of the time of writing, the TikTok is still on The White House’s account and has 1.5 million likes. 

The social media team also posted the video to X (Twitter), adding the caption: “Bad news for criminal illegal aliens. Great news for America.”

The “Kill Bill” hitmaker responded to the track’s use online. She wrote: “White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK ..inhumanity +shock and aw tactics ..Evil n Boring.”

Sabrina Carpenter

“Juno” singer Sabrina Carpenter also used her platform to shame the use of her song being applied to similarly disturbing footage of ICE arrests.

The now-deleted 14-second clip saw people being pursued and arrested by ICE officers. Every time a person is captured by an ICE officer her lyrics “Have you ever tried this one?” play.

“Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,” reads the video’s caption, alongside waving and heart-eyes emojis.

“This video is evil and disgusting,” Carpenter also posted in response to the video. “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” Her post has now received more than 1.8 million likes.

Furthermore, a White House spokesperson responded mockingly to Carpenter’s criticism. “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter,” the statement reads, referencing Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet album title.

“We won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.

“Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?” They also added, referencing lyrics from Carpenter’s hit “Manchild”.

Jess Glynne

Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” became a viral TikTok sensation over the summer for its use in the Jet2Holidays advert. Of course, Trump had to go and ruin the playful internet joke.

The White House repurposed the trending audio to soundtrack a video of a group of migrants being handcuffed and forced onto a deportation flight. “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!” reads the video’s caption.

Reacting to the post, Glynne declared, “This post honestly makes me sick.

“My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate.”

Actress Zoë Lister, who voices the Jet2holidays advert, also shared her upset, writing: “What can be done about [the White House] using [the Jet2] sound and my voiceover to promote their nasty agenda?”

Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo has also joined the pop girls in standing up to the president’s administration’s use of her music. 

The White House team made an Instagram post featuring a snippet of a segment of Rodrigo’s song “All-American B***”. The post is still live, however, Rodrigo’s song is no longer attached to the upload. An error message reading “This song is currently unavailable” is currently displayed.

The video’s caption threatens: “LEAVE NOW and self-deport using the CBP Home app. If you don’t, you will face the consequences.”

In the video, individuals are being detained and seemingly deported. The upsetting visuals were accompanied by the lyrics: “All the time / I’m grateful all the time / I’m sexy and I’m kind / I’m pretty when I cry.”

Rodrigo reportedly commented on the post: “don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda.” Though her comment is no longer on the post, screenshots were widely circulated. 

On Rodrigo’s comment, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the Guardian: “America is grateful all the time for our federal law enforcement officers who keep us safe. We suggest Ms. Rodrigo thank them for their service, not belittle their sacrifice.”

Celine Dion

In 2024, Celine Dion also slammed the use of her iconic Titanic track, “My Heart Will Go On”, for a Trump rally. Trump used the track during a presidential re-election campaign event in Bozeman, Montana.

Dion’s statement on the situation read: “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, became aware of the unauthorised usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing My Heart Will Go On at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana.

“In no way is this use authorised, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use… And really, that song?”

ABBA

Also in 2024, Swedish supergroup ABBA slammed Trump using their songs at his presidential campaign rallies.

Reportedly, “The Winner Takes it All”, “Money, Money, Money” and “Dancing Queen” were all played during a Trump campaign event.

The band’s record label Universal Music released a statement: “Together with the members of ABBA, we have discovered that videos have been released where Abba’s music has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately removed and taken down.”

The label also added that no permission or licence had been granted to Trump’s campaign.

By no means is this an exhaustive list of artists who have condemned the Trump administration for using their music. There’s also Queen, Neil Diamond, the family of Tom Petty, Foo Fighters, Sinéad O’Connor and Adele to name a few.

The post SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and other celebs who have called out the White House for using their music appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.