Published 11:21 12 Jun 2026 GMT
The White House has fired back after Ariana Grande condemned them for using one of her songs in a video promoting immigration arrests.
The controversy began after the Trump administration shared a TikTok on Tuesday (June 9) featuring footage of ICE agents carrying out arrests.
The 32-year-old's song 'Bye' was used as the soundtrack, while the video was captioned: "Bye-bye. President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history."
The Grammy-winning singer did not hold back when she responded in the comments section.
"Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. F*** ICE," she wrote, according to Variety.
As of this writing, the comment was no longer visible on the post. However, representatives for Grande confirmed to the outlet that she had made the comment, adding that "for some reason it's not publicly visible".
The sound appears to have been removed from the video.
The administration quickly pushed back against Grande's comment in a statement shared with Variety.
"We'll say this one last time: what's actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said.
The statement appeared to contain a pointed reference to Grande's 2014 hit 'One Last Time' from her album, My Everything.
This is not the first time the 'The Way' songstress has publicly criticized immigration policies associated with President Donald Trump.
Last September, Grande shared an Instagram post claiming that "immigrants have been violently torn from their families and communities have been destroyed," per Yahoo.
At the time, White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai responded by referencing several of Grande's song titles in a statement, including 'Save Your Tears', 'Just Like Magic', and 'Get Well Soon'.
Grande is not the only musician to condemn the administration for using popular songs in immigration-related content.
In November 2025, Olivia Rodrigo slammed the White House and the Department of Homeland Security after her song 'All-American B***h' was used in a video encouraging undocumented migrants to "self-deport".
"Don't ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda," she wrote.
The following month, Sabrina Carpenter criticized officials for using her song 'Juno' in an ICE arrest video.
In a post on X, she penned: "This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda."
SZA also took aim at the administration after her song 'Big Boys' appeared in another deportation-related social media post.
Writing on X, she claimed: "White House rage baiting artists for free promo is PEAK DARK ..inhumanity +shock and aw tactics ..Evil n Boring."
Published 13:29 30 Sep 2025 GMT
Published 11:47 03 Dec 2025 GMT
The White House has found itself at the center of controversy once again, after pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter criticized the administration for using one of her songs in a video that she described as promoting an "inhumane agenda."
The pop star, known for her hits and social media presence, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her outrage over the unapproved use of her music.
The drama began on Tuesday when the White House posted a video featuring Carpenter's song "Juno" playing in the background.
The video showed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents making arrests. Carpenter, 26, did not mince words when condemning the video and its message.
In a post on X, she wrote: “This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
Carpenter’s strong words quickly gained traction, as fans and followers rallied behind her in support.
Despite the public outcry, the White House stood firm on its decision to use the song, defending the video’s content.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson issued a blunt response, telling Newsweek: “Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country.”
Jackson went on to criticize the singer's stance, citing Carpenter’s lyrics from her own song 'Man Child,' where she sings, “Is it stupid, or is it slow?”
Jackson added: “Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
Carpenter is not the first artist to voice frustration over the White House's use of their music. In July, British pop star Jess Glynne also called out the administration for using her song 'Hold My Hand' in a promotional video.
The video, posted by the White House, showed multiple people in handcuffs being escorted onto flights by ICE agents, with the tagline: “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!”
The clip, which was part of a social media trend, quickly amassed over 12 million views, but it didn’t sit well with Glynne.
She responded on Instagram, saying: “This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity – never about division or hate.”
Glynne was not alone in her criticism. Actress Zoe Lister, who voiced the Jet2 holiday commercial that accompanied Glynne’s song, also spoke out against the White House’s use of the audio.
Lister tweeted: “What can be done about @whitehouse using @jet2pics sound and my voiceover to promote their nasty agenda?”
Other artists have joined in the protest as well, including high-profile names like ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Olivia Rodrigo, Neil Young, Guns N’ Roses, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Adele.
These musicians have all made their feelings known about the administration’s use of their music in promoting its policies.
Published 12:22 20 Feb 2025 GMT
The official Instagram page of the White House has posted a controversial video about deportations, and they've been met with a lot of backlash.
Since returning to office on January 20, President Donald Trump has wasted no time ramping up his immigration policies.
His administration has issued over 21 executive actions targeting illegal immigration, including tougher enforcement, expanded ICE powers, and stricter border security measures.
Trump's administration has framed these policies as necessary for national security, but critics argue they are draconian and harmful to vulnerable populations.
It would appear that the White House remain unmoved by any criticism, and have doubled down on their position with a bizarre video.
The video, shared on the White House’s official Instagram account on Tuesday, features an ASMR-style depiction of deportations.
The footage shows individuals being handcuffed and escorted onto an airplane, with audio emphasizing the roar of jet engines, the jingle of handcuffs, and the sound of footsteps boarding the aircraft.
The post has been widely condemned on social media, with many users questioning its intent and tone.
One person wrote: "Using ASMR to frame something so inherently traumatic like it’s entertainment rather than the life-altering, often heartbreaking event that it is… It strips away the humanity of those being deported, reducing their suffering to a spectacle."
A second added: "This is completely disgusting and dehumanizing. Who raised you! I’m horrified."
A third person said: "As a Christian, this is absolutely disgusting."
While a fourth penned: "This is beyond disgusting. I don’t care what party you support, if you support this video, your heart is deeply troubled."
Another wrote: "This is the most absurd, inhumane , embarrassing, and downright disturbing thing I have seen in a while. I can’t believe this is the account of our country’s leader. It’s worse than a bad joke at this point."
This is not the first time the White House’s social media activity has come under scrutiny in recent weeks.
On February 14, the official White House Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts posted a poem that read: "Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally and we will deport you."
Set against a pink background, the post featured images of President Donald Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan.
However, rather than spreading romance, the message quickly ignited backlash.
Many social media users condemned the post, calling it inappropriate and offensive.
"Whoever runs this page needs to be fired," one Instagram commenter wrote, reflecting widespread disapproval.
On X, another user criticized the post’s tone, stating: "Immigration is more than a meme. Real people, real lives, real struggles. Maybe it’s time for a more serious and humane discussion…!?
"History—and future generations—will judge societies by how they treat the most vulnerable. Let’s ensure compassion is part of the equation, not just policy."
In January, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared images of deportation flights conducted using military cargo planes, according to the Daily Mail.
While the administration has defended its policies as necessary for national security, critics argue they are harsh and harmful to vulnerable populations.
Published 10:24 31 Jul 2025 GMT
The White House has been slammed after sharing an ICE deportation video with the viral Jet2 Holidays meme.
On Tuesday (July 29), the official White House account under President Donald Trump shared a video of handcuffed undocumented migrants being escorted by censored ICE agents onto a GlobalX deportation flight.
Over the footage plays the now-famous Jet2 Holidays meme, a mashup of Jess Glynne’s 2015 hit 'Hold My Hand' and a chipper voiceover by actress Zoe Lister.
The shocking post was captioned: “When ICE books you a one-way Jet2 holiday to deportation. Nothing beats it!”
Social media users were quick to express their outrage, with one user reacting: "This is maybe the most disgusting tweet yet from this administration?? Absolutely gross and an embarassment."
Another blasted: "Trying to make joke of human suffering, genuinely this made me sick. My God this is aggravating," and a third shared: "This is vile. These are people."
A fourth said: "Fascism with Gen Z humor hoping to appeal to the younger generations leaves a sour taste in my mouth," while a fifth added: "Funny how there’s a level of professionalism expected in every single job EVER or there will be consequences and reports and other s**t. But the f**king White House can post s**t like this? Dystopian, pathetic, disgusting."
Glynne also took to her Instagram page to denounce the video, writing: “This post honestly makes me sick. My music is about love, unity, and spreading positivity - never about division or hate.”
Lister also chimed in, questioning: “What can be done about the White House using Jet2’s sound and my voiceover to promote their nasty agenda?”
Though the audio, originally used in Jet2 commercials and picked up in a 2025 TikTok trend, has often been paired with humorous or ironic fails, critics say the White House’s use of it to depict deportations crosses a line.
"It actually IS the official White House page, using a British airline advert trend to boast about deporting immigrants from their country, even including a Trump cameo at the end... Lost for words,” journalist Will Lancaster posted.
The clip also includes immigration officers dragging detainees out of vans, a screenshot of the CBP Home app (used to allow voluntary deportation), and ends with President Donald Trump giving a smirking thumbs-up to the camera.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the post in a statement to The Independent: “There is nothing more unifying and positive than deporting criminal illegal aliens and making American communities safer.”
ICE is now targeting 3,000 immigrant arrests per day under a new enforcement strategy backed by the 79-year-old president's recent $170 billion immigration funding bill, including $45 billion allocated for detention and a five-year, $76.5 billion boost to ICE’s budget.
Despite the public outcry about the shocking video, the administration appears unfazed as Jackson declared: “The memes will continue until every criminal illegal alien is removed!"
Published 17:00 29 Jan 2025 GMT
Selena Gomez has responded to the Republican politician who claimed that she should be deported after she shared an emotional video.
In case you're unfamiliar with this story, Gomez, whose father is of Mexican descent, was visibly distraught in the footage as she reacted to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that took place over the weekend.
According to the BBC, these operations resulted in the arrest of 956 undocumented individuals in major cities over just three days.
“I’m so sorry. All my people are getting attacked,” Gomez tearfully said in the video. “The children. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something but I can’t. I don’t know what to do. I’ll try everything, I promise."
The video also included a text overlay with the message “I’m sorry,” alongside a Mexican flag emoji.
Although the clip was quickly deleted, it sparked backlash from conservative commentators.
In response, Gomez addressed the criticism, writing: “Apparently, it’s not okay to show empathy for people.”
One of the most vocal detractors was U.S. Senate candidate Sam Parker, who took to X (formerly Twitter) with a controversial remark: “Deport Selena Gomez."
The statement was widely condemned, given that Gomez is a U.S. citizen born in Texas.
Parker later doubled down on his comments, sharing an Instagram post in which he boasted about his remarks and described himself as being in a “war against a bunch of r******* Selena Gomez fans.”
Gomez did not stay silent, responding to Parker’s comments via Instagram Stories. “Oh Mr. Parker, Mr. Parker. Thanks for the laugh and the threat," she wrote.
Immigration enforcement has been a contentious issue across multiple administrations. According to the Migration Policy Institute, via the BBC, former President Joe Biden oversaw 1.5 million deportations during his first four years—figures that "mirror the deportation numbers in Trump's first term."
Gomez has long been outspoken on immigration issues, particularly due to her family’s own experiences. In 2019, she produced the Netflix docuseries Living Undocumented, which highlighted the struggles of undocumented families in the U.S.
That same year, she penned an op-ed for Time in which she revealed her aunt was the first in her family to cross the U.S.-Mexico border in the back of a truck in the 1970s. “My grandparents followed, and my father was born in Texas soon after,” she wrote.
“Undocumented immigration is an issue I think about every day, and I never forget how blessed I am to have been born in this country thanks to my family and the grace of circumstance,” she added.
Reflecting on the families featured in Living Undocumented, Gomez wrote: “When I read the news headlines or see debates about immigration rage on social media, I feel afraid for those in similar situations. I feel afraid for my country.”
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