The Trump campaign has angered yet another band by using its music without permission. The White Stripes have filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for using the song “Seven Nation Army” in a video promoting his presidential campaign.
White Stripes furious at Trump campaign over use of Seven Nation Army
A Trump staffer posted a video to X on August 29 containing the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” which showed the presidential candidate boarding a plane.
While the video has since been deleted, it immediately spurred Jack White to action, who said on Instagram, “Don’t even think about using my music you fascists. Law suit [sic] coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thoussand others).”
White’s bite was as good as his bark, and in a follow-up Instagram post, he posted the first page of a lawsuit along with the message, “This machine sues fascists.” The suit marks both Jack and Meg White as plaintiffs in a copyright infringement suit seeking significant monetary damages. The defendants, listed as Donald Trump and staffer Margo McAtee Martin, are accused of using the song without permission and refusing to respond to pre-litigation efforts to resolve the issue.
The White Stripes aren’t the first group to be upset at Trump for using their song without permission. The Foo Fighters recently committed to donating to the Harris campaign after Trump used one of their songs without permission.
Additionally, Trump has received requests from Abba, Beyonce, Celine Dion, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, and the estates of Issac Hayes and Eddy Grant not to use their music in the past.
The ongoing disputes between Trump and musicians highlight a broader issue of unauthorized song usage in political campaigns. Despite numerous warnings and legal actions from artists, the Trump campaign continues to face backlash for infringing on intellectual property rights, fueling tensions between the entertainment industry and the political arena.
