Current:Home > InvestJack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song -PrestigeTrade
Jack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song
View
Date:2025-04-16 20:24:20
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! (4772)
Related
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- How law enforcement is promoting a troubling documentary about 'sextortion'
- Vehicle-to-Grid Charging for Electric Cars Gets Lift from Major U.S. Utility
- This Week in Clean Economy: U.S. Electric Carmakers Get the Solyndra Treatment
- North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
- Teen Mom's Maci Bookout Celebrates Son Bentley's Middle School Graduation
- Bob Huggins resigns as West Virginia men's basketball coach after DUI arrest in Pittsburgh
- Hawaii, California Removing Barrier Limiting Rooftop Solar Projects
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Dakota Pipeline Builder Under Fire for Ohio Spill: 8 Violations in 7 Weeks
Ranking
- Average rate on 30
- Is Climate Change Fueling Tornadoes?
- Sickle cell patient's success with gene editing raises hopes and questions
- Coasts Should Plan for 6.5 Feet Sea Level Rise by 2100 as Precaution, Experts Say
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Weaponizing the American flag as a tool of hate
- Why Bre Tiesi Was Finally Ready to Join Selling Sunset After Having a Baby With Nick Cannon
- Medicaid renewals are starting. Those who don't reenroll could get kicked off
Recommendation
Small twin
This Week in Clean Economy: Wind, Solar Industries in Limbo as Congress Set to Adjourn
Fighting Climate Change Can Be a Lonely Battle in Oil Country, Especially for a Kid
Journalists: Apply Now for ICN’s Southeast Environmental Reporting Workshop
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Human composting: The rising interest in natural burial
On Father's Day Jim Gaffigan ponders the peculiar lives of childless men
Meet the 'glass-half-full girl' whose brain rewired after losing a hemisphere