8 Musicians Who Shut Down Donald Trump: A Look at the Controversies Over Unauthorized Song Usage

As of September, eight huge musicians have called out Donald Trump this year for illegally using their music. Just this past Monday, a federal judge ordered the Trump campaign to stop using all music written by Isaac Hayes. Hayes wrote the Salmon Dave hit hold on, I’m coming, which is one of Trump’s favorites. Apparently, Isaac Hayes son says Trump has used it over 135 times at his rallies without permission or payment. And so Isaac Hayes’s son filed a lawsuit because of that, and now the judge has told Trump to stop using that music. You’ve also got the White Stripes, Seven Nation Army. After Trump played the song at a rally, Jack White wrote on Instagram, don’t even think about using my music, you fascist. Lawsuit coming from my lawyers about this to add to your 5,000 others. Jack White previously called out Trump for using that very song in 2016. Number three is shania o’connor’s nothing compares to you. O’connor’s estate and record label put out a joint statement denouncing trump’s use of the song, saying, it is no exaggeration to say that shania would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a biblical devil. Number four is the Smiths. Please, please, please let me get what I want. Johnny Marr, who wrote the song, tweeted, I never in a million years would have thought this could come to pass. Consider this Shit shut right down, right now. Morrissey, whose own politics now lean far right, never commented on the situation. No.. 5 is Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go on. Trump used the song at a rally in Montana in early August. Dion’s representation released a statement saying its use is in no way authorized and also asked, really, that song? No.. 6 is the Foo Fighters my hero. Dave Grohl responded with one word no. But a rep for Trump fired back saying they actually did secure the rights to my hero, so the band said it would donate royalties made from Trump’s use of the song to Kamala Harris. No.. 7 is ABBA’s Money, money, money, winner takes it all, and Dancing Queen. The Trump campaign apparently loves ABBA, but just recently the band put out an official statement and a cease and desist demand. They’ve also asked Team Trump that all footage with their songs be removed from all platforms. And finally, No.. 8 is Beyonce’s freedom. A Trump spokesperson cut together a video on X featuring this song, which LED Beyonce’s team to threaten a cease and desist. That in turn LED the Trump guy to take the video down. You just simply don’t mess with Beyonce.