Pop Star Sabrina Carpenter, Franklin the Turtle Join Growing Backlash Against Trump’s Use of Cultural Icons

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter and the creators of Franklin the Turtle are the latest to tell the Trump administration to keep their work far away from its political messaging, and the pushback is getting sharper by the week.

Carpenter blasted the White House on social media after her 2024 song Juno was used in a montage of ICE raids. The clip even quoted her lyrics: “Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye,” to underscore the deportation footage. Her response was immediate:

“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

The White House fired back. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued an insult-laced statement defending the video:

“Here’s a Short ‘n Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologise 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?”

But the pushback didn’t end in the music industry. On Monday, children’s publisher Kids Can Press condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for posting a manipulated image of Franklin the Turtle, the gentle Canadian character beloved for his kindness, wielding a bazooka with the caption, “Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.”

The publisher was blunt: Franklin stands for “kindness, empathy, and inclusivity,” and the violent imagery “directly contradicts these values.” The post comes as Hegseth faces intensifying scrutiny over a second strike he allegedly ordered on survivors of a US attack on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, an incident legal experts say may constitute a war crime.

This isn’t a one-off. A growing list of artists have protested Trumpworld’s use of their art. Kenny Loggins demanded the removal of a video using Danger Zone over AI-generated footage of Trump as a fighter pilot. Celine Dion and Beyoncé both condemned the use of their music in 2024 political videos. Yet Trump still has vocal supporters in music — most notably Village People’s Victor Willis, who welcomes the use of YMCA at rallies.