Current:Home > MarketsJack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song -Bright Future Finance
Jack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song
View
Date:2025-04-15 04:12:14
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! (5751)
Related
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- COP26 sees pledges to transition to electric vehicles, but key countries are mum
- 700 arrested in fifth night of French riots; mayor's home attacked
- You Know You Want to Check Out Our Ranking of the OG Gossip Girl Couples, XOXO
- B.A. Parker is learning the banjo
- Pence says Trump administration would have kept U.S. troops in Afghanistan despite withdrawal deal with Taliban
- A blizzard warning in Hawaii but no snow yet in Denver, in unusual December weather
- Dalai Lama Apologizes After Video Surfaces of Him Asking a Child to Suck His Tongue
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Carbon trading gets a green light from the U.N., and Brazil hopes to earn billions
Ranking
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Ukraine and Russia accuse each other plotting attack on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
- Their lands are oceans apart but are linked by rising, warming seas of climate change
- After a year of deadly weather, cities look to private forecasters to save lives
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Carbon trading gets a green light from the U.N., and Brazil hopes to earn billions
- Israel ends deadly raid in West Bank Palestinian refugee camp, but warns it won't be a one-off
- Today's Bobbie Thomas Details First Date Over 2 Years After Husband Michael Marion's Death
Recommendation
Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
Your First Look at Bravo's New Drama-Filled Series Dancing Queens
Nations with 85% of Earth's forests pledge to reverse deforestation
What losing Build Back Better means for climate change
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
Biden says he worries that cutting oil production too fast will hurt working people
Pope Francis is asking people to pray for the Earth as U.N. climate talks begin
Gavin Rossdale's Daughter Daisy Lowe Welcomes First Baby