Current:Home > InvestJack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song -Capitatum
Jack White threatens to sue over Trump campaign staffer's use of White Stripes song
Rekubit Exchange View
Date:2025-04-06 07:37:17
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! (64)
Related
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Marcellus Williams to be executed in Missouri woman's brutal murder; clemency denied
- Suit seeks to overturn Georgia law on homeless voter registration and voter challenges
- Shailene Woodley Details Losing Her Hearing While Suffering “Conflation” of Health Issues
- Paris Olympics live updates: Quincy Hall wins 400m thriller; USA women's hoops in action
- Sean “Diddy” Combs Moved Into Same Jail Housing Unit as Disgraced Exec Sam Bankman-Fried
- Pac-12 Conference files lawsuit against Mountain West over potential 'poaching fee'
- Major movie theater chains unveil $2.2 billion plan to improve 'cinematic experience'
- Kourtney Kardashian Cradles 9-Month-Old Son Rocky in New Photo
- Shailene Woodley Details Losing Her Hearing While Suffering “Conflation” of Health Issues
Ranking
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Brett Favre Shares He’s Been Diagnosed With Parkinson’s Disease
- David Sedaris is flummoxed by this American anomaly: 'It doesn't make sense to me'
- Bella Hadid Returns to the Runway at Paris Fashion Week After 2-Year Break From Modeling
- USA women's basketball live updates at Olympics: Start time vs Nigeria, how to watch
- A snowmobiler who crashed into a parked Black Hawk helicopter is awarded $3 million
- Sean 'Diddy' Combs and his former bodyguard accused of drugging and raping woman in 2001
- Jimmy Carter as a power-playing loner from the farm to the White House and on the global stage
Recommendation
Golf's No. 1 Nelly Korda looking to regain her form – and her spot on the Olympic podium
Second US death from EEE mosquito virus reported in New York, residents warned
Georgia high school football players facing charges after locker room fight, stabbing
Tom Parker’s Widow Kelsey Debuts New Romance 2 Years After The Wanted Singer’s Death
Breaking debut in Olympics raises question: Are breakers artists or athletes?
Horoscopes Today, September 23, 2024
Ex-officer charged with couple’s death in Houston drug raid awaits jury’s verdict
In effort to refute porn-site message report, Mark Robinson campaign hires a law firm