The Trump administration implemented a social media strategy that, at times, was at odds with famous musicians for using their music in political advertisements. While some singers and songwriters let the copyright use slide, others spoke out against the administration.
Nancy Wilson
Nancy Wilson of the band Heart took issue with her song “Barracuda” playing during President Donald Trump’s military parade in June. She addressed the parade in an Instagram post that included a photo of herself wearing a “No Kings But Us” hat, in reference to the protests. Wilson claimed the parade did not have her or her sister Ann’s “permission or authorization” to use the song.
“‘Barracuda,’ written and performed by Ann and I, is a powerful piece of music that was never intended for political use,” Wilson captioned the photo. “As daughters of a U.S. Marine Corps major, we hold a deep and abiding respect for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces,” wrote Wilson. “On a day meant to honor that service, it’s important that music used in such settings reflects not only the tone of the event but also the wishes of the artists who created it.”
Sabrina Carptenter
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter criticized the Trump administration for using her song “Juno” in a social media post without her permission.
The White House released a video compilation of anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters on Dec. 1. During a transition in the video, clips of anonymous protesters being arrested in various positions are shown alongside Carpenter’s lyrics, “Wanna try out some freaky positions / Have you ever tried this one?”
By the next day, the video had garnered over 1 million views, prompting a response from Carpenter:
Carpenter did not endorse anyone ahead of last year’s presidential election. At the time of the election, Carpenter was on her national “Short n’ Sweet Tour.” However, while performing at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Nov. 6, 2024, she expressed her disappointment in the election results.
“I hope we can be a moment of peace for you, a moment of safety,” Carpenter said at the time, according to Billboard. “Sorry about our country and to the women in here, I love you so so so so so much, and I really hope for the rest of this night that you can enjoy yourselves because you absolutely deserve it.”
The White House has stood by using Carpenter’s song amid its social media campaign. White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson paraphrased more of Carpenter’s lyrics in a statement to the Washington Examiner:
“Here’s a Short n’ Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won’t apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country,” Jackson said. “Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?”
The original White House post using Carpenter’s song was ultimately deleted from X.
Semisonic
Members of the rock band Semisonic said the White House “missed the point” of its hit single “Closing Time” after it was used in a viral video showcasing shackled illegal immigrants being deported in March.
“We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song ‘Closing Time’ in any way. And no, they didn’t ask,” Semisonic wrote on X at the time. “The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely.”
When it was released, “Closing Time” reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart and received a Grammy nomination for best rock song.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the post during a press conference: “I think the White House and our entire government, clearly, is leaning into the message of this president, and we are unafraid to double down and to take responsibility and ownership of the serious decisions that are being made.”
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However, the original post was eventually deleted, and the White House reuploaded another video that captured immigrants emerging from a van in Tampa, Florida. Then, the immigrants are seen boarding a plane to Alexandria, Louisiana, where a GEO Group-owned staging facility is operated by ICE.
“You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here,” the White House account captioned the video, quoting the lyrics of “Closing Time” but refraining from using the soundtrack in the video.