18 Singers Who Criticized Donald Trump For Using Their Songs

With the US presidential election just months away, it’s not unfair to say that Donald Trump isn’t exactly spoiled for choice when it comes to popular musicians who want to support him.

In fact, in the past few weeks alone, a number of artists have spoken out against the former president for using their music in his campaign videos or playing it at his rallies.

But this is nothing new.

Over the years, many singers and bands have criticized Trump for using their music without permission.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable examples…

In August 2024, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung shared a video of the Republican candidate performing Beyoncé’s song “Freedom,” which has become an anthem of Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in recent weeks.

Apparently unhappy with the use of her song, reports claimed that Beyoncé sent the Trump campaign a cease and desist letter, and it wasn’t long before the video in question disappeared from Cheung’s social media page without comment.

When Trump played Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally in August 2024, the Grammy winner responded with a scathing statement that made headlines around the world.

“This use is in no way authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement said.

Alluding to the fact that the song is most popular for its associations with the Titanic, the statement concluded: “And really, THIS song?”

The family of the late Sinéad O’Connor were understandably distraught after Nothing Compares 2 U was broadcast at various campaign stops in March 2024.

“It is well known that Sinéad O’Connor lived by a fierce moral code defined by honesty, kindness, fairness and decency towards her fellow human beings,” the Irish singer’s estate said.

“So it was with outrage that we learned that Donald Trump had used her iconic performance of Nothing Compares 2 U at his political rallies. It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone she herself has called a ‘biblical devil’.”

Johnny Marr, best known for his work as the lead guitarist for The Smiths, was not impressed to discover that the band’s song Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want had been played at a Trump rally.

“I never imagined this could happen. Consider this shit closed immediately,” he tweeted.

The musician was equally critical when Conservative MPs tried to align themselves with the Smiths’ music.

The Rolling Stones threatened to sue Trump in 2020 after he used their songs at his campaign rallies despite cease-and-desist directives.

Their 1969 hit, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, was a frequent choice at Trump events, with the band confirming that music rights organization BMI had already informed the then-president’s campaign that unauthorized use of their songs would violate its licensing agreement.

The Rolling Stones had previously complained about Trump’s use of their music during his previous campaign in 2016.

Also in 2020, Village People lead singer Victor Willis called on the president to stop playing songs like Macho Man and YMCA if he followed through on his threats and deployed the military against peaceful protesters in America.

Months later, Trump was seen dancing to the YMCA at a rally, and Victor told BBC News: “I don’t support Trump, I never supported Trump, and neither did the Village People.”

When asked what he thought of Trump’s dance, he laughed and added: “Donald Trump does what Donald Trump does. I’ve never seen him raise his hands and do the YMCA. He changed it to MAGA or something.”

Linkin Park sent a cease-and-desist letter to Trump when he retweeted a campaign-style video featuring the band’s song “In The End” in July 2020.

The pro-Trump video was posted to X (then still known as Twitter) by White House staffer Dan Scavino and was later shared on the president’s page.

The band then made their position clear by posting a message on their Twitter page: “Linkin Park has not and does not support Trump, nor do they authorize his organization to use our music. A cease and desist notice has been issued.”

X later told Sky News that they respond to “valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorised representatives”.

The family of the late Tom Petty has issued a cease and desist order after his song I Won’t Back Down was used at a Trump rally in June 2020.

They said in a statement: “Trump had no authority to use this song to promote a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind.

“The late Tom Petty and his family stood firmly against racism and discrimination in all its forms. Tom Petty would never have wanted one of his songs used in a campaign of hate. He loved to bring people together.”

The singer announced his intention to sue Trump in August 2020 after one of his songs was played against his wishes at presidential campaign rallies despite earlier warnings.

The copyright infringement complaint that was filed states: “This complaint is not intended to disrespect the rights and opinions of American citizens, who are free to support the candidate of their choice.

“However, Plaintiff cannot in good conscience allow his music to be used as a ‘theme song’ for a campaign of division, anti-Americanism, ignorance and hatred.”

The prince’s estate criticised the US president after Purple Rain was used at a rally in the late singer’s hometown of Minneapolis in October 2019.

The late singer’s song was released despite the Trump campaign having pledged not to do so a year earlier, following its use during the 2016 election campaign.

“The Prince’s estate will never allow President Trump to use Prince’s songs,” the domain wrote on Twitteralso sharing the letter from the president’s representatives confirming that they would not use Prince’s music “in any future activities.”

Beach Boys co-founders Brian Wilson and Al Jardine wanted fans to know they were not part of a Trump fundraising effort featuring the band’s current incarnation.

In 2020, the Beach Boys performed at a Trump fundraiser in Newport Beach, California. However, this was the current touring version of the band led by Mike Love, the band’s other surviving co-founder, who has often been at odds with his former bandmates, a Trump supporter.

A spokesperson for Brian and Al told Variety at the time: “We had absolutely nothing to do with Trump’s charity gala today in Newport Beach. Zero. We were not even aware of it and were very surprised to read about it in the Los Angeles Times.”

In 2019, Sharon Osbourne lambasted the US president for using Black Sabbath’s “Crazy Train” in a campaign video, and made it clear that Trump was “prohibited” from using her husband Ozzy’s music in future videos or at his rallies.

She then suggested that tracks by Kanye West, Kid Rock or Ted Nugent – ​​all of whom have publicly supported Trump in the past – might be more appropriate musical choices for him.

Rihanna reacted vehemently after learning that her song Don’t Stop The Music was played at a pro-Trump event in 2018.

She wrote on X: “Not for much longer… neither I nor my people will ever be present at one of these tragic gatherings, so thank you for warning me!”

Adele took offense to Donald Trump during his 2016 election campaign, when Rolling In The Deep was used repeatedly at his rallies.

In a short but precise statement, her spokesperson said: “Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaign.”

Adele’s statement was a little more moderate than REM’s, who were less than thrilled to learn that Trump had played their song, It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, at his rallies before the 2016 election.

The band’s frontman, Michael Stipe, released a statement telling the presidential candidate to “go fuck himself,” making it clear that he wanted nothing to do with his ideologies.

Steven Tyler sent Donald Trump a cease and desist letter when he began using Dream On in his campaigns in 2015.

True to form, Trump responded on X that he had already found a “better song” to replace Dream On, adding: “Steven Tyler got more publicity on his song request than he’s gotten in ten years. Good for him!”

If anyone was going to try to clumsily appropriate the message of We Are The Champions into their political campaign, it would be Donald Trump, right?

Guitarist Brian May assured a fan in 2016: “I will make sure that we take every step possible to disassociate ourselves from Donald Trump’s unsavory campaign.”

However, in August 2020, the band admitted that it had been “an uphill battle” to convince the Trump campaign to stop using their songs.

Shortly after Celine Dion’s instantly iconic message to Trump, the family of Isaac Hayes – who died in 2008 – also criticized the presidential candidate for playing Hold On, I’m Comin’, a Sam & Dave song written by the singer and actor, at his rallies.

Isaac’s son, Isaac Hayes III, shared a legal letter on social media, revealing that he and his family plan to sue Trump for 134 counts of “copyright infringement,” and saying they have repeatedly requested that the Republican candidate not play Hold On I’m Comin’ at his rallies.