Jack White has never been the one to stay quiet. And when it comes to protecting his music, he’s taking no prisoners. The ‘White Stripes‘ frontman, known for his sharp riffs and outspoken nature, is making headlines again.
But this time, it’s not about a new album or tour. Instead, it’s a legal face-off with none other than Donald Trump. Yep, you heard that right. The rock legend is suing the former president for unauthorized use of the iconic ‘White Stripes‘ track, ‘Seven Nation Army‘.
Why Is Jack White Furious With Donald Trump (Again)?
The saga began in late August when a video appeared on X showing Donald Trump walking out to ‘Seven Nation Army‘, one of ‘The White Stripes‘ most famous tracks. The clip, shared by Trump’s deputy director of communications Margo Martin, was soon deleted. And, spoiler alert, he wasn’t thrilled.
In an Instagram post, White blasted the use of the song. He wrote in the caption, “Don’t even think about using my music you fascists.”
Related: Beyonce Threatens To Sue Donald Trump Over Illegal Use Of Her Song ‘Freedom’ For His Campaign
In late August, White also threatened to file a lawsuit against Trump’s campaign after his deputy director of communications Margo Martin used the song ‘Seven Nation Army’ in a since-deleted video on X.
“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,” the tweet read.
Fast forward to now; Jack White has officially filed a lawsuit against Trump in the Southern District of New York. White’s complaint accuses Trump of knowingly using the song without permission, which violates the band’s rights under the Copyright Act.
He posted the first page of the complaint on Instagram, writing in the caption, “This machine sues fascists.” That’s a spicy title if I’ve ever heard one.
Donald Trump’s History Of Bad Blood (And Misused Songs)
This isn’t the first time Donald Trump has faced backlash from musicians for misusing their music. In fact, the list of artists who’ve publicly objected to their songs playing at Trump rallies is growing by the day.
Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, Johnny Marr, and even the family of Isaac Hayes have demanded Trump stop exploiting their work. In Hayes’ case, a judge recently ordered Trump to stop using ‘Hold On, I’m Coming‘ at his events.
As for ‘The White Stripes‘, their anger with Trump dates back to his 2016 campaign when he first used ‘Seven Nation Army‘. At the time, Jack and Meg White expressed their disgust over the association.
But now, with another election looming and Trump doubling down on his controversial policies, the band is even more fired up. According to their complaint, they “vehemently oppose” Trump’s actions and are seeking monetary damages, attorney’s fees, and anything else the court decides.
