Musicians Who Have Criticized Donald Trump for Using Their Songs Without Permission

Donald Trump is a great deal of points, however he’s absolutely not a complete stranger to cease-and-desists.

Over the training course of the previous POTUS’ political occupation, he’s handled to check off a multitude of artists whose tunes he’s utilized at occasions and in project products, apparently without obtaining authorization. In the period of simply 2 weeks in August 2024, for example, Beyonc é, Foo Fighters and Jack White all shared their discouragement at Trump’s group showing up to utilize their job without permission– however it’s a story as old as the billionaire’s preliminary governmental run in 2016, when he initially ended up being a lightning arrester for dissatisfied musicians.

After investing the complying with 4 years in the White House, he competed the function of u.s. president once more, however shed to President Joe Biden in 2020. Another 4 years later on, he introduced his 3rd project, creating 12 years overall of gathering puts on the wrist from dissatisfied hitmakers. That’s not to claim he isn’t properly sustained by various other artists, however. Jason Aldean, Ye, Kid Rock and Sexyy Red are simply a couple of heavyweights that have actually backed Trump; nonetheless, his 2024 Democratic challenger Kamala Harris has actually likewise obtained a cascade of assistance from the songs sector’s leaders.

Whether they have actually revealed declarations of stricture, intimidated to take lawsuit or followed up with a legal action– or perhaps even every one of the above– lots of artists have actually challenged Trump’s use their job considering that he initially climbed to power. Keep checking out to see an extensive listed here, in indexed order:

• Adele

  Election Year: 2016

  When Trump utilized “Rolling in the Deep” as his walk-on track at numerous project rallies in 2016, Adele’s speaker terminated back with a declaration to Billboard: “Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning.”

• Beyonc é

  Election Year: 2024

  After Trump project speaker Steven Cheung published a video clip of Trump tipping off an aircraft to the track “Freedom”– which Kamala Harris’ project had actually currently embraced as its signature tune– Beyonc é’s group sent out the Apprentice alum a cease-and-desist. It’s likewise worth keeping in mind that the singer authorized Harris’ use the track in her project undertakings.

• Brendon Urie

  Election Year: 2020

  Brendon Urie was not having it when Trump utilized Panic! at the Disco’s “High Hopes” at a rally. “Dear Trump Campaign, F–k you,” he tweeted in action. “You’re not invited. Stop playing my song.”

• Celine Dion

  Election Year: 2024

  After finding out that Trump had actually utilized “My Heart Will Go On”– relatively without thinking about that the ballad notoriously soundtracks Titanic, a movie regarding among one of the most renowned failings in background– Celine Dion’s group made it clear that the singer had not authorized of the use and satirized the paradox of the scenario. “In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” it checked out. “…And really, THAT song?”

• Earth, Wind & & Fire

  Election Year: 2016

  Earth, Wind &Fire provided a short, to-the-point declaration after your home band at the 2016 Republican National Convention– where Trump officially approved his election as the event’s prospect– played “September” without permission. “Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes,” the band tweeted.

• Foo Fighters

  Election Year: 2024

  When Trump played Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” while inviting political election failure Robert F.Kennedy Jr to the phase, the band tweeted that it had not given authorization for the usage. In a declaration shown to Billboard, a speaker specified, “Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and if they were, they would not have granted it,” including that “appropriate actions are being taken” which any type of aristocracies got as an outcome of the project’s use would certainly be contributed to the Harris-Walz project.

  Shortly later, Trump’s group mentioned that they in fact had actually acquired a certificate to play the track.

• George Harrison

  Election Year: 2016

  George Harrison’s estate called Trump’s use “Here Comes the Sun” at the 2016 Republican National Convention “offensive,” including a follow-up tweet: “If it had been Beware of Darkness, then we MAY have approved it! #TrumpYourself”

• Guns N’ Roses

  Election Year: 2020

  Frontman Axl Rose had actually currently been extremely open regarding his resistance to Trump when the latter’s project began utilizing Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine” at political features. So when he familiarized the use in 2018, he provided an extensive declaration on X blowing up the then-president.

  “GNR like a lot of artists opposed to the unauthorized use of their music at political events has formally requested r music not b used at Trump rallies or Trump associated events,” he composed at the time. “Unfortunately the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues’ blanket performance licenses which were not intended for such craven political purposes, without the songwriters’ consent. Can u say ‘s–tbags?!’”

• Isaac Hayes

  Election Year: 2024

  In August 2024, Isaac Hayes’ estate filed a claim against Trump for utilizing the late spirit vocalist’s “Hold On, I’m Coming” without permission at numerous rallies, after which a government court provided the complainants an emergency situation hearing.

  “Donald Trump, the RNC, Trump, Trump for President Inc. 2024, Turning Point and The NRA are required to appear in court September 3rd, 2024 at the Northern U.S. District Federal Court in Atlanta,” tweeted Hayes’ child, Isaac Hayes III. “See you in court.”

• Jack White

  Election Years: 2016, 2024

  Jack White called out Trump for utilizing The White Stripes’ songs not when, however two times– and both times over the very same track. In 2016, the Stripes replied to the political leader’s use “Seven Nation Army” in a project video clip by mentioning that they were “disgusted by this association.”

  Eight years later on, White once more knocked Trump after the business person’s replacement supervisor of interactions, Margo Martin, apparently published a video clip of him getting in an aircraft as “Seven Nation Army” played. “Oh….Don’t even think about using my music you fascists,” he composed. “Law suit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.)”

• Linkin Park

  Election Year: 2020

  A video clip advertisement published by the White House’s then-director of social media sites, Dan Scavino, and retweeted by Trump, led Linkin Park to put the previous head of state’s group with a cease-and-desist many thanks to its unapproved use “In the End.” The clip was likewise gotten rid of by X, mentioning a copyright grievance, while the band provided a declaration distancing itself from Trump.

• Neil Young

  Election Years: 2016, 2020

  After years of objecting Trump’s use his songs at project occasions beginning in the 2016 political election cycle, Neil Young ultimately filed a claim against the political leader in August 2020 for apparently playing “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk” at a project rally without appropriate licensing. A couple months later on, nonetheless, Trump shed his 2nd White House quote, and Young made a decision to have the situation disregarded.

• Nickelback

  Election Year: 2020

  Nickelback relatively differed with Trump utilizing “Photograph” in a video clip he published on socials taking chance ats future head of state Joe Biden, as the clip was gotten rid of from X and You Tube for copyright factors. An agent for X claimed as the business reacted “to valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorized representatives.”

• Ozzy Osbourne

  Election Year: 2020

  Sharon Osbourne knocked Trump in a declaration in support of her other half when the then-POTUS utilized “Crazy Train” in a video clip on X. “We are sending notice to the Trump campaign (or any other campaigns) that they are forbidden from using any of Ozzy Osbourne’s music in political ads or in any political campaigns,” she composed at the time.

• Pharrell

  Election Year: 2020

  Pharrell was not excited when Trump played “Happy” at a rally in Indiana– hours after the Tree of Life Congregation shooting in Pittsburgh, no much less– the hitmaker sent out the republican politician a cease-and-desist letter via his legal representative. “There was nothing ‘happy’ about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose,” it checked out.

• Prince

  Election Year: 2020

  Prince’s estate blew up Trump for utilizing “Purple Rain” at project occasions in both 2018 and 2019, at one factor composing on social media sites, “The Prince Estate will never give permission to President Trump to use Prince’s songs.”

• R.E.M.

  Election Years: 2016, 2020

  R.E.M. knocked Trump for playing “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” at a 2015 rally throughout his very first run for head of state, however when Trump utilized “Everybody Hurts” in a video clip published on social media sites. By the moment the billionaire played “Everybody Hurts” and “Losing My Religion” at his 2020 re-election celebration in Milwaukee, the band had actually had sufficient.

  “We are exploring all legal avenues to prevent this, but if that’s not possible please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man,” bassist Mike Mills tweeted at the time.

• Rihanna

  Election Year: 2020

  Rihanna made her position on Trump utilizing her 2007 solitary “Don’t Stop the Music” at one of his rallies extremely clear by releasing the list below action on X: “me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies.”

• Rolling Stones

  Election Years: 2016, 2020

  The Rolling Stones insisted their disapproval of Trump utilizing their songs at project occasions numerous times throughout the political leader’s 2016 run, however he proceeded playing tracks such as “Start Me Up,” “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Brown Sugar.”

  When Trump once more played “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at his Tulsa rally while running once more in 2020, the rock tales ramped points up by endangering a legal action.

• Tom Petty

  Election Year: 2020

  Donald Trump played Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” at a rally, and the late rocker’s estate basically claimed, “We’ll see about that.”

  Issuing a cease-and-desist to the political leader, Petty’s estate included a declaration that “Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind.”

• Steven Tyler

  Election Years: 2016, 2020

  Steven Tyler has actually objected Trump’s use Aerosmith songs countless times for many years, from harmful lawsuit two times over “Dream On” dipping into numerous project occasions in 2015– Trump asserted it had actually been lawful for him to utilize, however assured to quit playing it– to blowing up the then-president for playing “Livin’ on the Edge” at a rally in 2018.

  “What makes this violation even more egregious is that Mr. Trump’s use of our client’s music was previously shut down, not once, but two times, during his campaign for presidency in 2015,” a letter from the rock celebrity’s legal representatives described complying with the last circumstances. “As we have made clear numerous times, Mr. Trump is creating the false impression that our client has given his consent for the use of his music, and even that he endorses the presidency of Mr. Trump.”

• Queen

  Election Year: 2016

  Queen warned Trump versus playing “We Are the Champions” at project occasions numerous times throughout the 2016 cycle, with guitar player Brian May at one factor mentioning that “permission to use the track was neither sought nor given … we are taking advice on what steps we can take to ensure this use does not continue.”

  Eventually, Sony/ ATV Music Publishing provided a declaration in support of the band. “Queen does not want its music associated with any mainstream or political debate in any country,” it checked out. “Nor does Queen want “We are the Champions” to be utilized as a recommendation ofMr Trump and the political sights of theRepublican Party We count on, hope and anticipate thatMr Trump and his project will certainly value these dreams moving on.”

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