Rock duo The White Stripes has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, accusing him of using their hit song “Seven Nation Army” without permission in a Facebook campaign video. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan court, claims Trump engaged in the “flagrant misappropriation” of one of the “most well-known and influential musical works of all time,” according to Billboard Pro.
Jack and Meg White, who were pivotal in the garage rock revival of the 2000s, argue that the association of their song with Trump is deeply offensive, particularly because they strongly oppose his policies. “The new association with Defendant Trump that Defendants have foisted upon Plaintiffs through the Infringing Trump Videos is even more offensive to Plaintiffs because Plaintiffs vehemently oppose the policies adopted and actions taken by Defendant Trump when he was President and those he has proposed for the second term he seeks,” the complaint states.
Jack White had previously warned Trump against using his music. In a social media post weeks ago, White wrote, “Oh….Don’t even think about using my music you fascists. Lawsuit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others).”
This lawsuit follows another legal battle in which a federal judge recently ordered Trump to stop using “Hold On, I’m Comin'” by the late Isaac Hayes at his rallies. The Hayes estate had sued Trump for the unauthorized use of the song, and Trump’s legal team unsuccessfully argued that Hayes’ death in 2008 voided the copyright.
Billboard Pro noted that many other artists have voiced their opposition to Trump using their music. Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, ABBA, and Sinead O’Connor’s estate are among those who have spoken out in recent weeks.
In addition to these legal challenges, Trump recently sparked controversy among Taylor Swift fans by sharing AI-generated images that appeared to show the singer endorsing his campaign—an endorsement Swift has not made.
The series of lawsuits underscores the ongoing tension between Trump and prominent musicians who are fighting to prevent the unauthorized use of their work in political campaigns.