From Guns n' Roses to Rihanna: Musicians Trump has angered

Over the years, during his presidential campaigns and during his time as President, Donald Trump has been called out by many musicians who do not want their music associated with Trump in any way, shape, or form. The latest, as reported by the BBC, was the late Sinéad O'Connor's estate, who demanded that Donald Trump not use her music during his rallies.

According to the BBC, in February 2024, Donald Trump played O'Connor's best-known song 'Nothing Compares 2 U' during a campaign event in Maryland. In a comment to the BBC, Sinéad O'Connor's estate said that it was "no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt, and insulted" by the fact Trump was using his music.

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However, Sinéad O'Connor's estate is just the most recent case of an artist being upset that Trump is using their music. Click on to see the full list of musicians, such as Neil Young or Rihanna, who have demanded that Donald Trump stop using their music.

In January 2024, Trump ticked off Johnny Marr of The Smiths by playing the band's song "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" for crowds at some of his rallies, according to People. Marr, the co-writer of the song, wrote on X that he would not tolerate Trump's use of the song, writing, "Consider this s--- shut right down right now."

In 2022, the estate of the late Isaac Hayes threatened to take legal measures against Donald Trump after he played the Sam & Dave song at his campaign launch. According to Billboard, Trump's team played  "Hold On, I'm Coming" after the estate had previously requested that Trump not use Hayes' music. On X Isaac Hayes' estate wrote, "Stopping a politician from using your music is not always an easy task, but we are dedicated to making sure that Donald Trump does not continue to use “Hold on I’m Coming” by written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter in further rallies and public appearances."

According to Reuters, Eddie Grant took Donald Trump to court for violating the copyright when Trump used his song "Electric Avenue" in a political video he tweeted in 2020. As of September 2023, the pair were still battling it out in court.

Donald Trump angered a lot of musicians in 2020 by using their music without their permission. According to the New York Times, in October 2020, John Fogerty, a former member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, shared on X that he had issued a cease and desist order to the Trump campaign. In a statement, Fogerty wrote, "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."

In 2020, Tom Petty's family denounced Trump's use of the late musician's son, "I Won't Back Down" at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to Forbes. Petty's wife and daughters issued a cease and desist notice to the Trump campaign and, in a statement, said, "Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind."

According to Variety, Leonard Cohen fans were livid when Donald Trump used Cohen's song 'Hallelujah' at the Republican National Convention in August 2020. The late singer's estate said in a statement that they specifically rejected Trump's request, but he used the song anyway.

Phil Collins also wants nothing to do with Donald Trump. According to TMZ, in October 2020, Collins' served a cease and desist order to Trump's campaign team after they played his song 'In the Air Tonight' during a rally in Iowa. Collins' attorney, David A. Steinberg, wrote, "Mr. Collins has serious concerns that the manner in which the Trump campaign has used 'In the Air Tonight' has caused, and will cause, damage to Mr. Collins' reputation and popularity with the public."

Trump also used Linkin Park's music without their permission in 2020. According to CNN, the band sent a cease and desist order to Donald Trump's campaign after Trump retweeted a campaign video that used Linkin Park's hit song 'In The End.' Twitter removed the video, and the band said in a statement, "Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music."

According to USA Today, Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco also got pretty peeved when Trump's campaign played his song 'High Hopes' as the President walked on stage in Arizona in June 2020. Urie wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Dear Trump Campaign, F you. You're not invited. Stop playing my song. No thanks, Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco & company."

Billboard reported in 2020 that Nico Vega also had a beef with Trump in 2020 after the then-President shared a video using the song 'Beast.' The band released a statement on Twitter saying, "To be clear, Nico Vega does not support the use of our song "Beast" in Trump's recent video. We have love and empathy for all people of all backgrounds, races and beliefs, and we feel sick how all Americans' fears and vulnerabilities have been exploited over the last four years..."

Rock and roll legends The Rolling Stones aren't fans of the orange man. In June 2020, Forbes reported that Trump played 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' at a rally in Tulsa. The Stones worked with music rights company BMI who, "notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement" and that if he continued to use their music, "he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed."

Forbes also reported that in January 2020, the band members of R.E.M. were shocked to learn that Donald Trump was using their songs' Everybody Hurts' and 'Losing My Religion' at his rallies. The band said they were "exploring all legal avenues" and added in a statement to the press, "Please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man."

Apparently Donald Trump loves the village people, because he just will not give up on trying to use their music! First in June of 2020, Victor Willis from the group asked Trump to stop using their songs 'Macho Man' and 'Y.M.C.A.' However, as Rolling Stone points out, a cease and desist letter was not enough, and even in 2023, Donald Trump continued to use their songs. The Village People are currently in a legal battle with Donald Trump over his use of their songs.

Beloved Canadian rock band Nickelback was irked in October 2019 when Trump tweeted a manipulated version of their music video for the song 'Photograph,' according to Business Insider. The changed version of Nickelback's video created by Trump's campaign team was an attempt to link Joe Bident to a Ukrainian gas executive. The band filed a complaint with Twitter, and the video was successfully removed.

According to Vulture, in 2019 Ozzy Osbourne had quite a lot to say about Donald Trump using his famous song 'Crazy Train' in a video making fun of the Democratic primary debate. In a statement to the press Ozzy said,  "[W]e 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."

Trump also used a Prince song in 2019 without permission. The song 'Purple Rain' was played at a Trump rally in Minneapolis in October 2019. According to Forbes, the late singer's estate denounced the use of the song in a statement saying that Trump "confirmed a year ago that the campaign would not use Prince's music" and said they would "never give pe'mission to 'resident Trump to use Prince's songs."

In 2018, The Independent reported that the legendary band Guns n' Roses was not happy that Donald Trump was playing their songs at his rallies. Axl Rose addressed the masses on Twitter, writing, "Just so ya know... GNR like a lot of artists opposed to the unauthorized use of their music at political events has formally requested [our] music not [be] used at Trump rallies or Trump-associated events."

According to People, Donald Trump also used Rihanna's music without permission in 2018. Trump's campaign used the artist's song 'Don't Stop The Music' at a rally, resulting in a cease and desist order. Rihanna's attorneys declared at the time that Rihanna "has not provided her consent to Mr Trump to use her music. Such use is therefore improper," adding that the use of the song "creates a false impression that Ms Fenty is affiliated with, connected to or otherwise associated with Trump."

Singer Pharrell Williams was not pleased to learn that Donald Trump had played his song 'Happy' at a rally in Indiana, only a few hours after 11 congregants died during the Tree of Life shooting in Pennsylvania in 2018. Business Insider reported that Williams' legal team issued a cease and desist letter to Trump stating, "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."

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In 2017, Donald Trump was using the Twisted Sister song 'We're Not Gonna Take It,' as his campaign anthem. This really got Twisted Sister fans in a tizzy, so as Jay Jay French explained on the band's website, singer Dee Snider, who is friends with Trump, politely asked him to stop using the song, and Donald complied.

Everlast of House of Pain called Trump out on using the group's song 'Jump Around' in 2016. According to Billboard, in a tweet Everlast wrote, "Hey @realDonaldTrump stop using my song jump around at your rallies you piece of s***. Cease and desist is coming you scumbag."

In October 2016, Trump's team decided to use the song 'Seven Nation Army' by The White Stripes without Jack and Meg White's permission. Billboard reported that the pair issued a statement to the press saying they did not support Trump. Later when their last album 'Icky Thump' came out, the pair created merchandise saying 'Icky Trump' as a tit for tat revenge.

According to the New York Times, in 2016, Luciano Pavarotti's family demanded that Donald Trump stop using Pavarotti's version of Giacomo Puccini's aria "Nessun Dorma" during campaign events. The late singer's wife and three daughters told the newspaper that "the values of brotherhood and solidarity which Luciano Pavarotti expressed throughout the course of his artistic career are entirely incompatible with the worldview offered by the candidate Donald Trump."

The iconic band The Beatles has also been a victim of Donald Trump using their music without their consent. According to Forbes, in 2016, Trump used their songs, including 'Here Comes the Sun' at the Republican Convention. In a statement to the press, the late George Harrison's family said, "The unauthorized use of 'Here Comes the Sun' at the RNC is offensive & against the wishes of the George Harrison estate."

When the Queen classic "We Are the Champions" played during the 2016 Republican National Convention as then-Republican nominee Donald Trump introduced his wife, Melania, the members of the band were in shock. According to Forbes, Queen quickly took to Twitter (now X) to write, "Sony/ATV Music Publishing has never been asked by Mr. Trump for permission to use 'We are the Champions' by Queen." The band continued, "...we are frustrated by the repeated unauthorized use of the song after a previous request to desist, which has obviously been ignored by Mr. Trump..."

Donald Trump seems to enjoy a wide variety of music, angering R&B bands Earth, Wind & Fire, and The O'Jays in 2016 by using their music without consent. According to Forbes, Trump's team played 'September' and 'Love Train' at the Republican Convention, prompting Earth, Wind & Fire to tweet "Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes," and the O'Jays to say that Trump "may be the anti-Christ."

According to The Guardian, in 2016, Elton John told the Donald Trump campaign that he did not want Trump using his music. Later on, he said that it was "nothing personal", and he simply did not want his music used in American politics; however, it is clear he was trying to save face because, in 2022, Elton John sang at the White House for Joe Biden.

In 2016, singer Adele found out that Donald Trump had been playing her songs during his events without her permission. According to Vulture, Adele was so angered she went on to tell her fans, "Don't vote for him," speaking of Trump. "I am English, but what happens in America affects me, too. I am 100% for Hillary Clinton. I love her, she's amazing."

2016 also saw Trump anger "The Boss", when according to several media outlets Bruce Springsteen denounced Donald Trump's use of 'Born in the U.S.A.' and 'Glory Days' at rallies. Springsteen did not take legal action but instead endorsed Hillary Clinton. As a result MAGA supporters started booing Springsteen's songs whenever they were played.

In 2015, Aerosmith made it clear to Donald Trump and his team that they did not want to be associated with him. According to Forbes, Trump tweeted that Stephen Tyler, the band's leader singer, had requested that Trump stop using his music and later claimed that thanks to him, "got more publicity on his song request than he's gotten in ten years."

Trump's team thought it would be a cool idea to use R.E.M's song 'It's the End of the World as We Know It' during a rally to oppose the deal with Iran in September of 2015, according to Rolling Stone Magazine. However, the band's lead singer Michael Stipe was having none of it, and tweeted to Trump, "Go F yourselves, the lot of you—you sad, attention grabbing, power-hungry little men. Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign."

Canadian icon Neil Young was the first artist to denounce Trump for using his music. According to The Guardian, Young slapped Trump with a lawsuit when he announced his presidential candidacy. Trump had been using Neil Young's song 'Rockin' In The Free World' without the singer's permission.

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