Controversy Over ICE's Use of Popular Music in Social Media Propaganda
ICE has been using pop songs, notably Sabrina Carpenter's, over footage of arrests in Chicago as part of a broader propaganda effort on the social media platform X. This use of music has led to public condemnation from artists including Carpenter, who called the video evil and disgusting and urged for her music not to be used. Carpenter's response significantly increased attention to the ICE content. The White House responded by disparaging Carpenter's reaction while continuing to promote deportation messaging, including harsh rhetoric about criminals and implying critics of the administration are naive or slow, despite most ICE arrests not involving criminal charges.
Other artists such as SZA, Olivia Rodrigo, Jess Glynne, Kenny Loggins, and MGMT have also objected to the administration's use of their music in similar contexts. The article describes the administration's social media strategy as rage-baited propaganda driven by "memelords," with expert Kaelan Dorr noting that arrests and viral content will continue to be used. This pattern is framed as part of a broader trend under a reality-TV president and a former Fox News host in defense roles, reflecting a culture of influencer-driven messaging.
There is a history of artists' music being used without consent for such purposes, including previous mentions of Taylor Swift. The article suggests that Swift's music could also be used in future ICE materials, highlighting the no-win situation artists face when speaking out against these practices.
