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POP STAR SABRINA Carpenter has slammed the Trump administration for using her music in an “evil and disgusting” deportation video.
It comes as the publisher of the “Franklin the Turtle” books criticised US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth for an online post depicting the beloved children’s character shooting alleged criminals.
In the case of Carpenter, a social media post yesterday by the official White House account used part of her song Juno in a video about deporting migrants.
The video shows people being handcuffed following ICE raids and the caption quotes Carpenter’s lyrics, “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye.”
In a post under the video on X, Carpenter described the video as “evil and disgusting”.
She added: “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) December 2, 2025
It follows the publisher of Franklin the Turtle, Kids Can Press, condemning Hegseth’s post on X featuring a manipulated image of Franklin aiming a bazooka at boats.
Franklin is a six-year-old cartoon turtle who is shown navigating everyday challenges in the book series.
Hegseth posted the image with the caption “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.”
For your Christmas wish list… pic.twitter.com/pLXzg20SaL
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 1, 2025
“We strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorised use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values,” the publisher said in a tweet.
However, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement yesterday: “We doubt Franklin the Turtle wants to be inclusive of drug cartels… or laud the kindness and empathy of narco-terrorists”.
— kidscanpress (@KidsCanPress) December 1, 2025
The Trump administration has conducted multiple strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on small boats accused of ferrying drugs in the region.
More than 80 people have been killed in such strikes since early September.
There is a long list of performers and artists who have objected to the Trump administration using their songs and copyright material, including Abba, Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Semisonic, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, REM, Guns N’ Roses, Celine Dion, Beyonce and Adele.
-With additional reporting from Press Association
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