The White Stripes’ Jack White and Meg White have filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, accusing the presidential candidate of “flagrant misappropriation” of their song “Seven Nation Army.”
In late August, Jack threatened a lawsuit against Trump’s campaign after Margo Martin, his deputy director of communications, used “Seven Nation Army” in a since-deleted video on X of the Republican nominee walking out to the song. “Don’t even think about using my music you fascists,” he wrote in a caption on Instagram. “And as long as I’m here, a double fuck you DonOLD for insulting our nation’s veterans at Arlington you scum. You should lose every military family’s vote immediately from that if ANYTHING makes sense anymore.”
Now, Jack and Meg are making good on their threat, filing a complaint in the Southern District of New York against Trump and Martin. He posted the first page of the complaint on Instagram, writing in the caption, “This machine sues fascists.”
The complaint itself, reviewed by Variety, states that Trump did not seek or obtain permission and endorsement from the band to use their music, nor did his campaign respond to pre-litigation efforts to resolve the issue. It claims that Trump and his associates knew or should have known that the usage was unauthorized and that it violated their rights under the Copyright Act.
The suit refers to the duo’s previous denouncement of Trump’s usage of “Seven Nation Army” during his 2016 campaign, stating that they were “disgusted by that association.” Jack and Meg say that the new infringement is “even more offensive” because they “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 band is suing Trump for monetary damages, attorney’s fees and costs.
Representatives for Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The White Stripes join a growing list of musicians and bands who have recently objected to Trump using their music in promotional items and at campaign rallies. Celine Dion, Foo Fighters and the Smiths’ Johnny Marr expressed their distaste over the exploitation of their songs, while Isaac Hayes’ family demanded $3 million for playing “Hold On, I’m Coming” at events. In the case of the latter, a judge ordered Trump to stop using the song at rallies earlier this month.
From Variety US