Musician Jack White has taken a public stand against former President Donald Trump's campaign for using a song by The White Stripes without permission.
White has threatened to sue the Trump campaign for using his band’s song, "Seven Nation Army," in a video posted by Trump’s deputy director of communications, Margo Martin, as the Independent reports.
On August 29, White shared a screen recording of a now-deleted clip on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The clip showed Trump boarding a plane to Michigan and Wisconsin while ‘Seven Nation Army’ played in the background. The recording was posted by Margo Martin, one of Trump's top communication aides, who has since removed the video.
White did not hold back in his reaction. In an Instagram post, the Grammy-winning artist expressed his outrage over the unauthorized use of his music, calling Trump and his team "fascists" and threatening legal action. White made it clear that his lawyers would be pursuing a lawsuit, adding to the numerous legal challenges already facing the former president.
White’s Instagram post was more than just a legal warning; it was a scathing criticism of Trump’s behavior at a recent public event. White condemned Trump for what he described as an insult to America’s veterans during his visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where Trump laid a wreath to mark the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack in Kabul.
The rocker's words reflected a deep frustration not only with the unauthorized use of his music but also with the broader political and social issues he associates with Trump. He suggested that Trump’s actions should cost him the support of military families, whom White believes were disrespected by the former president.
The controversy surrounding White’s music is not an isolated incident. Over the past few years, the Trump campaign has repeatedly faced backlash from artists who object to the use of their music at his rallies and events. The most recent incident involves the iconic Swedish group ABBA, whose music was used in footage from a Trump rally.
A spokesperson for Universal Music, ABBA’s record label, confirmed that the group did not give permission for their songs to be used. The spokesperson stated that both the band and the label have demanded that the videos featuring ABBA’s music be taken down immediately.
This growing list of artists taking legal or public action against Trump’s campaign includes some of the most notable names in the music industry. Isaac Hayes's estate has already filed a lawsuit, and Beyoncé has issued a cease-and-desist letter, demanding that her music not be used in connection with Trump’s political activities.
The legal disputes involving music rights are a part of a broader trend of artists asserting control over how their work is used, particularly in the political sphere. These actions highlight the tension between creative rights and political campaigns that often seek to capitalize on popular music to energize their base.
White’s public denouncement and the potential legal action underscore the risks that political campaigns face when using copyrighted material without proper authorization. The Trump campaign’s repeated clashes with artists over music rights suggest that this issue will remain a contentious one as the former president continues to engage in political activities.
As of now, it remains to be seen how these legal challenges will unfold. However, the growing list of artists taking a stand against unauthorized use of their work is a clear indication of the importance they place on protecting their intellectual property and the messages associated with their music.
