Current:Home > ContactJack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song -FinanceMind
Jack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song
View
Date:2025-04-12 14:48:06
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! (462)
Related
- South Korean president's party divided over defiant martial law speech
- Justice Department investigating Democratic Rep. Cori Bush over alleged misuse of campaign funds
- Turkish parliament strips imprisoned opposition lawmaker of seat
- Walmart says managers can now earn up to $400,000 a year — no college degree needed
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- Kansas to play entire college football season on the road amid stadium construction
- Essentials to Keep You Warm When You’re Freezing Your Butt off Outside
- France’s new prime minister vows to defend farmers and restore authority in schools
- Google unveils a quantum chip. Could it help unlock the universe's deepest secrets?
- Republican lawmakers in Kentucky offer legislation to regulate adult-oriented businesses
Ranking
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Toyota warns drivers of 50,000 vehicles to stop driving immediately and get cars repaired
- Fred Again.. is one part DJ, one part poet. Meet the Grammy best new artist nominee
- Ex-Huskers TE Gilbert, a top national recruit in 2019, pleads no contest to misdemeanors in break-in
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- From 'Lisa Frankenstein' to 'Terrifier 3,' these are the horror movies to see in 2024
- ChatGPT violated European privacy laws, Italy tells chatbot maker OpenAI
- Massachusetts state troopers arrested for taking bribes to pass commercial drivers on test
Recommendation
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner returns home to Italy amid great fanfare
Kansas City Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu tears ACL and will miss Super Bowl 58, per reports
Britain's King Charles III discharged from hospital after prostate treatment
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Tennessee football program, other sports under NCAA investigation for possible NIL violations
Pennsylvania’s governor to push for millions in funds for economic development in budget
Why a Natural Gas Storage Climate ‘Disaster’ Could Happen Again