Semisonic denounces Trump admin's use of "Closing Time" for deportation video

The White House posted a video on X of two men who were deported for unknown reasons as Semisonic's "Closing Time" played.

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  March 17, 2025 | 10:28pm
Photo by Frank Micelotta (Getty Images)
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Semisonic denounces Trump admin's use of
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As we know by now, the Trump administration’s grasp of popular music is literal at best, nauseating at worst, and confusing always. After a summer of President Trump dancing to “YMCA”—but not doing the dance—the Trump administration has added yet another musician to its extensive Wikipedia page of Musicians who oppose Donald Trump’s use of their Music: Semisonic. Per Deadline, earlier today, the official White House X account shared a video of Border Patrol agents deporting two men supposedly accused of unknown crimes set to the dulcet tones of Semisonic’s “Closing Time.” “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here,” The White House’s social media admins cheekily captioned in what the White House press secretary called “fun videos.”

Obviously, the pop-rock band Semisonic doesn’t want to get associated with the Trump administration’s revolting idea of a “fun video.” “We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song ‘Closing Time’ in any way,” the band wrote on X, the everything app. “And no, they didn’t ask. The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely.”

Sure, Trump’s border czar announced today that he doesn’t “care what courts think,” but maybe Semisonic’s catchy hooks can get through to them. Still, we’re sorry to say that missing the point matters little to an administration that finds entertainment value in people being deported. While it’s always disturbing to see the government take such joy in cruelty, it also showcases the administration’s disregard for licensing agreements, which has been a tentpole of the administration for about a decade.

 
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