White House Slams Zara Larsson
White House response Zara Larsson ICE 2026
The White House issued a sharp and dismissive response to Swedish pop star Zara Larsson on Monday, January 12, 2026, following the singer’s viral social media tirade against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Speaking from the press briefing room, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the “Lush Life” singer’s comments, which included a profane declaration of hatred for the agency and a claim that she “loves criminals.” Leavitt characterized Larsson’s remarks as a “grossly out-of-touch” display of celebrity elitism, arguing that the Swedish national has no standing to criticize American law enforcement while she simultaneously admits to being romantically involved with an individual who has a criminal record. The Press Secretary asserted that the administration will not apologize for enforcing the rule of law or for maintaining the “security and sanctity” of U.S. borders against those who have violated them.
The confrontation began on Saturday when Larsson shared a series of Instagram stories with her 8.5 million followers, expressing her outrage over the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. In her posts, Larsson revealed that her long-time partner, Swedish dancer Lamin Holmén, has been barred from entering the United States for six years due to a past criminal record involving marijuana. Larsson mocked the restriction, questioning “who gives a f***” about a non-violent drug offense and accusing ICE of being a “terrorist organization” that kidnaps and kills people. She further polarized her audience by stating that she would rather have someone “smoking crack” on her couch than have an ICE agent in her presence, adding that the agency specifically targets “Black and brown people.”+2
During the briefing, Leavitt utilized Larsson’s own words to frame the singer as a defender of lawlessness. The Press Secretary noted that while Larsson may find criminal records “humorous,” the millions of American victims of crime and narcotics do not share her amusement. “It is quite revealing when a foreign celebrity openly admits to ‘loving criminals’ while attacking the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Leavitt stated. She further suggested that if Larsson is unhappy with American immigration laws, she is “free to stay in Stockholm” rather than attempting to influence the domestic policy of the United States. This “combative” response from the podium is consistent with the administration’s broader strategy of aggressively countering celebrity critics, particularly as stars like Mark Ruffalo and Ariana Grande have begun wearing “ICE OUT” pins at events like the Golden Globes.
The White House’s counter-attack comes at a time of extreme tension in Minneapolis, where nearly 2,000 additional federal agents have been deployed to counter what President Trump has called “domestic terrorism” from anti-ICE protesters. While Larsson clarified in later posts that her partner’s record has since been cleared in Sweden, the Trump administration remains steadfast in its policy that any past criminal history is grounds for a permanent ban on entry. As the “Be Good” campaign—named in honor of Renee Nicole Good—gains momentum among international artists and entertainers, the White House appears prepared to engage in a prolonged PR battle. For now, the administration’s message to Zara Larsson and her peers is clear: the federal government will continue its “Operation Metro Surge” and its deportation efforts, regardless of how “vocal or viral” the celebrity opposition becomes.
