Sabrina Carpenter, Céline Dion and other artists who have refused to allow their work to be used by the Trump administration

A handful of artists have spoken out to prevent Donald Trump’s administration from using their work in its social media content. This week, one of Sabrina Carpenter’s best known songs — Juno, from her 2024 album Short n’ Sweet — was used by the government to publicize the anti-immigration strategy led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a video showing agents chasing and arresting various people. Carpenter commented on the post from her X account: “This video is evil and disgusting. Do not involve me or my music again for the benefit of your inhumane agenda.”

Singer Olivia Rodrigo made a similar complaint in early November. Her song All-American Bitch, a single from her latest album of the same name, was used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a video promoting the “self-deportation” of undocumented immigrants through a government app. “Don’t ever use my songs to promote your racist and hateful propaganda again,” Rodrigo wrote on her Instagram account.

Rodrigo and Carpenter are the most recent artists to speak out, but they not the only ones. In 2024, Beyoncé issued a cease and desist letter — a formal warning to a person or institution to stop an illegal activity — after her song Freedom was used in a Trump video; a curious case, because the song was Kamala Harris’ unofficial anthem during her campaign.

Céline Dion is another one in the list. “Are you serious? That song?” wrote the superstar on social media after My Heart Will Go On, the Canadian artist’s signature song, was used at a rally for Trump. In August 2024, the artist’s team issued a statement: “Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use of the song.”

The music of Isaac Hayes, soul singer and songwriter, has also been used by Trump. Hayes’s son announced that the family had decided to sue the then-presidential candidate when they learned that the song Hold On, I’m Comin’ had been used 135 times without a license.

At least six musicians took action against Trump in 2024. In addition to those already mentioned, the list includes legendary English guitarist from The Smiths, Johnny Marr; the heirs of Sinéad O’Connor; and the rock band Foo Fighters. And in previous years, Neil Young, R.E.M., Rihanna, Steven Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith, and The Rolling Stones, among others, have also sued the Republican.

The problem has not been limited to musicians. For example, the family of illustrator Norman Rockwell, who rose to fame with his covers for Saturday Evening Post magazine, reported that the DHS was using images with nationalist slogans without their permission, which would be devastating for the illustrator, according to his son.

Kids Can Press, the publisher of books featuring Franklin the Turtle, a children’s character, has also requested the image of Franklin not be used. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used the character in a meme referencing recent U.S. attacks on alleged drug smuggling boats with a mock book titled “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.”

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