There are various, sundry ways that former President Donald Trump has demonstrated his utter shamelessness. One example from the pop culture corner is how he’s perfectly willing to appropriate the music of artists who hate his guts at his fascist little rallies. This example is a large umbrella under which more than a dozen musicians fall, most recently the late Sinéad O’Connor. Apparently Trump has been using her cover “Nothing Compares 2 U” at his campaign events (which is a weird choice for a political rally, except that it would be kind of ego-flattering?), and given O’Connor’s entire deal, her estate is obviously not going to let the affront stand.
“Throughout her life, it is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness, and decency towards her fellow human beings,” reads a joint statement from O’Connor’s estate and her record label Chrysalis Records (via The Guardian). “It was with outrage therefore that we learned that Donald Trump has been using her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies. It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad 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’. As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump and his associates desist from using her music immediately.”
Besides being opposed politically to Donald Trump in basically every way while she was alive, O’Connor did speak out against him on multiple occasions. Elaborating on calling him the “biblical devil” to Hot Press, she told the outlet, “I know this may sound extreme—I don’t really give a flying fuck what everyone else thinks—but I am convinced the man is actually a Satanist. I’m convinced of it. Klansmen were Satanists, it’s a satanic organization. Whatever form it may exist in now, I don’t know and I don’t want to know, but its origins were satanic. All its rituals, everything about it. These people do exist. They’re butchers, bakers, candlestick makers. So why not the President of the United States of America?” Per The Sun, in 2020, she tweeted that she hoped the coronavirus “takes him.”
At this point, the list of artists who have told Trump to stop using their songs is so illustrious that there’s a whole-ass Wikipedia page dedicated to the subject, so O’Connor is in good company. Here’s the full list so far, if you want to take a trip down memory lane…
Adele (2016)
Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Official Music Video)
“ has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning,” a spokesperson said after Trump tried out “Skyfall” and “Rolling In The Deep.”
Aerosmith (2015, 2018)
Aerosmith - Dream On (Audio)
first sent Trump a cease and desist in 2015 for using “Dream On,” saying the usage “gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid.” Another cease and desist had to be sent in 2018 when Trump switched to “Livin’ On The Edge” (via ):“As we have made clear numerous times, Mr. Trump is creating the false impression that our client has given his consent for the use of his music, and even that he endorses the presidency of Mr. Trump. By using ‘Livin’ On The Edge’ without our client’s permission, Mr. Trump is falsely implying that our client, once again, endorses his campaign and/or his presidency, as evidenced by actual confusion seen from the reactions of our client’s fans all over social media.”
The producers and composer of Air Force One (2016)
Air Force One (1997) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers
Producer over Trump’s usage of the score from the Harrison Ford thriller for his campaign. “The music for Air Force One was composed and conducted by the legendary Oscar-winning film composer Jerry Goldsmith,” she wrote in a letter. “Jerry’s music was hijacked in a misguided attempt to associate Trump with the film and the President in that film.”“From everything I know about Jerry Goldsmith’s political views, he would have been extremely unhappy with Trump co-opting his art to sell his image,” his former agent Richard Kraft told . “Goldsmith composed music to underscore a make-believe, heroic president in [Air Force One], not to help create a phony soundtrack for Trump. He would have been appalled to have his music selling a product he would greatly dislike.”
The Beatles/George Harrison’s estate (2016)
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun (2019 Mix)
“The unauthorized use of #HereComestheSun at the #RNCinCLE is offensive & against the wishes of the George Harrison estate,” Harrison’s official account after the Trump campaign used the upbeat Beatles track in Ivanka Trump’s 2016 Republican National Convention intro. “If it had been ‘Beware Of Darkness,’ then we MAY have approved it! #TrumpYourself.”
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son (Official Music Video)
about his unhappiness that Trump made “Fortunate Son” his soundtrack, culminating in a cease and desist. “I object to the President using my song, ‘Fortunate Son’ in any way for his campaign. He is using my words and my voice to portray a message that I do not endorse. Therefore, I am issuing a ‘cease and desist’ order,” he . “I wrote this song because, as a veteran, I was disgusted that some people were allowed to be excluded from serving our country because they had access to political and financial privilege. I also wrote about wealthy people not paying their fair share of taxes. Mr. Trump is a prime example of both of these issues. The fact that Mr. Trump also fans the flames of hatred, racism and fear while rewriting recent history, is even more reason to be troubled by his use of my song.”
Eddy Grant (2021)
Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue (HD Audio)
“Electric Avenue” artist Eddy Grant sued Trump for copyright infringement after his campaign used the track in an animated video created by a third party that the then-president had posted on his personal Twitter in 2020, according to . Trump tried to block the lawsuit by claiming “Presidential absolute immunity.” “We are confident that our clients’ rights will ultimately be fully upheld and look forward to Mr. Trump fully explaining his actions,” Grant’s attorney said in a statement provided to the outlet in 2021.
Elton John (2016)
Elton John - Rocket Man (Official Music Video)
Elton John was a bit more circumspect about Trump using his tunes “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer.” His camp released a statement in 2016 that read, “Elton’s music has not been requested for use in any official capacity by Donald Trump. Any use of his music should not be seen as an endorsement of Donald Trump by Elton” (via ). He later told , “I don’t really want my music to be involved in anything to do with an American election campaign. I’m British. I’ve met Donald Trump, he was very nice to me, it’s nothing personal, his political views are his own, mine are very different, I’m not a Republican in a million years. Why not ask Ted fucking Nugent? Or one of those fucking country stars? They’ll do it for you.”The singer ultimately declined an invitation to of President Trump, who is apparently .
Everlast/House of Pain (2016)
House of Pain - Jump Around (Official Music Video) [HD]
, a.k.a. Erik Francis Schrody, strongly objected when Trump played House of Pain’s “Jump Around” at a rally. “Hey @realDonaldTrump stop using my song jump around at your rallies you piece of shit. Cease and desist is coming you scumbag,” he tweeted, in addition to “Hey @realDonaldTrump I’ll smack the fucking combover off of your disgusting moronic scalp you P.OS. #fuckdonaldtrump.”
Isaac Hayes (2022)
Hold On, I’m Coming
In the wake of the Uvalde shooting, Trump concluded an NRA convention speech (during which he mispronounced the names of victims) by playing “Hold On I’m Coming,” performed by Sam and Dave and written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. “The estate and family of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve and would NEVER approve the use of ‘Hold on I’m coming’ by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at this weekends convention,” Hayes’ estate wrote on Twitter (via ). “Our condolences go out to the victims and families of #Uvalde and mass shooting victims everywhere. @NRA”
The Smiths/Johnny Marr (2024)
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want (2011 Remaster)
“” is perhaps Trump’s most transparent campaign rally tune, but Johnny Marr isn’t having it. “Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this shit shut right down right now,” Marr posted on Twitter/X.
Leonard Cohen (2020)
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (Audio)
Leonard Cohen’s estate denied the use of the Republican National Committee using , assuming the RNC would pay heed. Spoiler alert: They did not. It led to the estate issuing a statement about exploring legal actions, and yet another retort: “Had the RNC requested another song, ‘You Want it Darker,’ for which Leonard won a posthumous Grammy in 2017, we might have considered approval of that song.”
Linkin Park (2020)
In The End [Official HD Music Video] - Linkin Park
In the end, Donald Trump possibly loves to get various forms of “cease and desist” letters, huh? He retweeted a fan-made video in 2020 set to Linkin Park’s popular track, “In The End”—it was originally posted by then social media director of The White House, Dan Scavino. The media was, naturally, disabled.
Luciano Pavarotti (2016)
Luciano Pavarotti sings “Nessun dorma” from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994)
The family of Luciano Pavarotti, a legendary Italian opera singer who died in 2007, made it clear they didn’t want his famous arias to be played at Trump rallies. Specifically, they said the late singer would not have approved of the use of “Nessun Dorma,” which Trump frequently used during his election campaign. “As members of his immediate family, we would like to recall that the values of brotherhood and solidarity which Luciano Pavarotti expressed throughout the course of his artistic career are entirely incompatible with the world view offered by the candidate Donald Trump,”
Neil Young (2020)
Rockin’ in the Free World
went for the jugular in his opposition to Donald Trump using his music, specifically “Rockin’ In The Free World,” at his rallies. , in part, “Remember it is the voice of a tax-paying U.S. citizen who does not support you. Me.” , but at least he put his pen to good use.
Nickelback (2020)
Nickelback - Photograph
When Trump tweeted a doctored version of Nickeblack’s “Photograph” in 2020, Warner Music Group made it clear this was a dumb move. from X (formerly Twitter). As a result, however, the.
Nico Vega
Nico Vega - “Beast” (Official Music Video)
when Trump used their song “Beast” without permission, they went on to create a Spotify playlist—called “Cease and Desist”—of other tracks he’s taken advantage of in a similar manner. They put him on blast by also releasing .
When Trump posted a meme video of himself on the debate stage emerging to “Crazy Train,” took it upon herself to release a statement on her husband’s behalf: Based on this morning’s unauthorized use of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” we are sending notice to the Trump campaign (or any other campaigns) that they are forbidden from using any of Ozzy Osbourne’s music in political ads or in any political campaigns. Ozzy’s music cannot be used for any means without approvals. In the meantime, I have a suggestion for Mr. Trump—perhaps he should reach out to some of his musician friends. Maybe Kayne West (“Gold Digger”), Kid Rock (“I Am the Bullgod”) or Ted Nugent (“Stranglehold”) will allow use of their music.
Panic! At The Disco/Brendan Urie (2020)
Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes (Official Video)
A somewhat left-field choice for a Trump rally, “High Hopes” was quickly shut down by Panic! At The Disco frontman Brendan Urie. “Dear Trump campaign, Fuck you. You’re not invited. Stop playing my song. No thanks, Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco & company,” he tweeted (via ), following it up with the message that the president “represents nothing we stand for” and directing fans to the voting nonprofit HeadCount.
Pharrell Williams (2018)
Pharrell Williams - Happy (Video)
Trump’s use of “Happy” on the day of the deadly Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh prompted a hasty cease-and-desist from ’ team. “On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged ‘nationalist,’ you played his song ‘Happy’ to a crowd at a political event in Indiana,” the letter read. “There was nothing ‘happy’ about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose.”
Phil Collins (2020)
Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight (Official Music Video)
’ legal team sent Trump a cease-and-desist after he played “In The Air Tonight” at a rally in Tulsa, writing that his use of the song was “not only wholly unauthorized but, as various press articles have commented, particularly inappropriate since it was apparently intended as a satirical reference to Covid-19.”
Prince’s estate (2019)
Purple Rain
Prince’s estate brought receipts. After Trump played “Purple Rain” at an event in Minneapolis, the late singer’s estate posted a letter from the campaign confirming that they’d never use Prince’s music from a year prior on . “The Prince Estate will never give permission to President Trump to use Prince’s songs,” they wrote.
Queen (2016)
Queen - We Are The Champions (Official Video)
After Trump used “We Are The Champions” at a rally, wrote on his website, “Permission to use the track was neither sought nor given. We are taking advice on what steps we can take to ensure this use does not continue.”
R.E.M. (2015, 2019, 2020)
R.E.M. - It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
R.E.M. has opposed Trump’s use of their music on multiple occasions. They first after Trump played “It’s The End Of The World” at a rally in 2015, writing: “we do not authorize or condone the use of our music at this political event, and do ask that these candidates cease and desist from doing so.” In 2019, bassist Mike Mills got Twitter to take down a Trump video illegally using the song “Everybody Hurts,” and in 2020, the band again over his unauthorized use of “Everybody Hurts” and “Losing My Religion” at rallies.
Rihanna (2018)
Rihanna - Don’t Stop The Music
sent a cease and desist after her hit “Don’t Stop The Music” was used at one of the former president’s “tragic rallies,” per a . “As you are or should be aware, Ms. Fenty has not provided her consent to Mr. Trump to use her music. Such use is therefore improper,” read the legal notice.
The Rolling Stones (2016)
The Rolling Stones - You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Official Video) [4K]
When Trump tested out the very ironic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” issued a statement professing that they “have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately.”“The Rolling Stones do not endorse Donald Trump,” the band additionally wrote on Twitter. “‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ was used without the band’s permission.”
Tom Petty’s estate
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - I Won’t Back Down (Official Music Video)
Petty’s family issued a cease and desist against Trump after he used “I Won’t Back Down” in a campaign rally, writing (via Twitter): “Trump was in no way authorised to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind. Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.”
The Village People (2020, 2023)
Macho Man
Both frontman Victor Willis and the band’s label, , have threatened legal action against Trump for the unauthorized use of their songs, “Macho Man” and “Y.M.C.A.” In February of 2020, the band was shrugging his usage off, that the president was “respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line.” By June, however, Willis wrote on , “I ask that you no longer use any of my music at your rallies especially ‘Y.M.C.A.’ and ‘Macho Man.’ Sorry, but I can no longer look the other way.”In 2023, Willis’ wife and the band’s manager Karen Willis issued a formal cease and desist after a cover band performed their songs at Trump’s resort, writing that “the use of the group’s image and likeness at Mar-a-Lago was unauthorized” (via ). “Though my husband has tolerated your client’s use of his Village People music, we cannot allow such use by him to cause public confusion as to endorsement,” her letter wrote.
The White Stripes
Seven Nation Army
Jack and Meg wrote that “the White Stripes would like to unequivocally state that they have nothing whatsoever to do with this video,” and that “they are disgusted by this association, and by the illegal use of their song,” after Trump used “Seven Nation Army” at a campaign rally. They also sold ” shirts as a parody of their song “Icky Thump” in 2016.
