Current:Home > MarketsJack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song -NextFrontier Finance
Jack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song
View
Date:2025-04-22 06:10:48
Another musician is objecting to the Trump campaign's use of their work.
Jack White on Thursday threatened legal action against former President Donald Trump's team after the deputy director of communications for his 2024 presidential campaign allegedly posted a video of Trump boarding a plane to the tune of The White Stripes' iconic 2003 track "Seven Nation Army." The video, which White posted a screen recording of on Instagram, appears to have been taken down.
"President @realDonaldTrump departs for Michigan and Wisconsin!" Margo Martin's X post read, per White's screen recording.
"Oh....Don't even think about using my music you fascists," White wrote in the caption of his post. "Law suit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.) Have a great day at work today Margo Martin."
White also castigated Trump for an altercation between a public affairs official and members of the Trump campaign at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday. Though federal law states political activities are not permitted on cemetery grounds, Trump's team was reportedly photographing and filming at the site.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
He called out the Republican presidential candidate "for insulting our nation's veterans at Arlington you scum. You should lose every military family's vote immediately from that if ANYTHING makes sense anymore."
USA TODAY reached out to the Trump campaign and White's reps for comment.
Who's spoken out?Trump keeps dancing as artists get outraged over use of their songs
Céline Dion, Foo Fighters have also spoken out against Trump campaign
The former White Stripes frontman is the latest in a string of artists who have distanced themselves from Trump's presidential run after his campaign used their music in rallies and videos.
Céline Dion ("My Heart Will Go On"), Foo Fighters ("My Hero"), the estate of Sinéad O'Connor ("Nothing Compares 2 U") and the family of songwriter Isaac Hayes (Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'") are among those who have denounced the use of their work.
Some, but not all, have threatened legal action.
After the Trump campaign played "Hold On, I'm Comin'" at rallies, Hayes' son, Isaac Hayes III, filed a copyright infringement notice, which was issued to Trump and demanded a payment of $3 million in licensing fees.
"Donald Trump epitomizes a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continuous use of my father's music without permission but also through his history of sexual abuse against women and his racist rhetoric," Hayes III wrote on Instagram. "This behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to put an end to it."
The Hayes family's lawyer claims Trump "willfully and brazenly" committed copyright infringement and has continued to use the song "despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use" by the family.
After "My Hero" was played at Trump's Arizona rally with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. last week, a representative for the Foo Fighters told USA TODAY the band was not asked for permission, and if they were it would not have been granted. The rock band vowed to donate "any royalties received as a result of this use will be donated" to Democratic candidate Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman
veryGood! (7)
Related
- $73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
- Africa at a crossroads as more democracies fall to military coups, experts say
- New York City works to dry out after severe flooding: Outside was like a lake
- Native Hawaiian neighborhood survived Maui fire. Lahaina locals praise its cultural significance
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- It's only fitting Ukraine gets something that would have belonged to Russia
- McCaffrey scores 4 TDs to lead the 49ers past the Cardinals 35-16
- Attorneys for college taken over by DeSantis allies threaten to sue ‘alternate’ school
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Pakistani Taliban attack a police post in eastern Punjab province killing 1 officer
Ranking
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Connecticut enacts its most sweeping gun control law since the Sandy Hook shooting
- UN to vote on resolution to authorize one-year deployment of armed force to help Haiti fight gangs
- Taylor Swift at MetLife Stadium to watch Travis Kelce’s Chiefs take on the Jets
- RFK Jr. grilled again about moving to California while listing New York address on ballot petition
- Nebraska is imposing a 7-day wait for trans youth to start gender-affirming medications
- Kansas police chief suspended in wake of police raid on local newspaper
- UN to vote on resolution to authorize one-year deployment of armed force to help Haiti fight gangs
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
A fight over precious groundwater in a rural California town is rooted in carrots
U2 brings swagger, iconic songs to Sphere Las Vegas in jaw-dropping opening night concert
Attorney General Garland says in interview he’d resign if Biden asked him to take action on Trump
Organizers cancel Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna over fears of an attack
California’s new mental health court rolls out to high expectations and uncertainty
Afghan Embassy closes in India citing a lack of diplomatic support and personnel
28 rescued in 'historic' New York storm, state of emergency to remain: Gov. Hochul