Current:Home > InvestJack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song -StockLine
Jack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song
View
Date:2025-04-18 09:02:06
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! (92)
Related
- Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
- Jets drop Tim Boyle, add Brett Rypien in latest QB shuffle
- Where did all the veterinarians go? Shortage in Kentucky impacts pet owners and farmers
- New Forecasting Tools May Help Predict Impact of Marine Heatwaves of Ocean Life up to a Year in Advance
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Florida man, already facing death for a 1998 murder, now indicted for a 2nd. Detectives fear others
- 23andMe hack let threat actor access data for millions of customers, company says
- 2 women die from shark bites in less than a week: How common are fatal shark attacks?
- A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
- Video shows research ship's incredibly lucky encounter with world's largest iceberg as it drifts out of Antarctica
Ranking
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Manuel Rocha accused of spying for Cuba for decades
- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree goes to No. 1 — after 65 years
- Boston tourist killed by shark while paddleboarding in the Bahamas, police say
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- UN food agency stops deliveries to millions in Yemen areas controlled by Houthi rebels
- Can you answer these 60 Christmas trivia questions on movies, music and traditions?
- George Santos trolls Sen. Bob Menendez in Cameo paid for by Fetterman campaign
Recommendation
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree tops Billboard Hot 100 chart for first time since 1958 release
Denny Laine, founding member of the Moody Blues and Paul McCartney’s Wings, dead at 79
Taliban’s abusive education policies harm boys as well as girls in Afghanistan, rights group says
$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
US officials want ships to anchor farther from California undersea pipelines, citing 2021 oil spill
Georgia lawmakers advance congressional map keeping 9-5 GOP edge; legislative maps get final passage
Florida discontinues manatee winter feeding program after seagrass conditions improve