The White Stripes musician Jack White has become the latest music star to object to Trump’s presidential campaign using their music.
Lawyers for Jack White and his former wife and band member Meg White filed court papers for “flagrant misappropriation of the musical composition and sound recording Seven Nation Army.”
This comes after the artist had previously declared that he would file a lawsuit in response to a video that the Republican contender, Mr. Trump, had shared on social media that showed him boarding a plane to the track.
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The 49-year-old took to Instagram to share a photo of court documents and wrote, “This machine sues fascists.”
The band’s attorneys Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP called the song “among the most well-known and influential musical works of all time”, and claimed it was used to generate interest in Mr Trump’s campaign.
His deputy director of communications, Margo Martin, posted, “President @realDonaldTrump departs for Michigan and Wisconsin!”
The White Stripes’ lawyers claim that “as a self-professed sophisticated and successful businessman with decades-long experience in the entertainment industry”, Mr Trump should be aware of copyright law.
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The band previously expressed displeasure at the use of their music in a pro-Trump campaign ad for his first presidential bid in 2016, calling it “disgusting by that association.”
According to the papers filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, the White Stripes said that the “new association” is “even more offensive” because they disagree with his policies and bid for a second term.
After being “ignored,” the band claims they tried to resolve the matter but ultimately chose to file a lawsuit seeking “significant monetary damages, attorney’s fees, and costs.”
The group marks the latest in a list of music stars, including ABBA, Celine Dion and Beyoncé, who have protested against Donald Trump for using their music as part of his campaign.
After their music was improperly utilised to support Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Abba filed a complaint.
The Swedish group has requested that the campaign immediately remove any videos showing its popular songs being used in an “unauthorised” way.
These songs include The Winner Takes It All and Dancing Queen, which were used at a recent rally.
Celine Dion’s management condemned the use of her hit song My Heart Will Go On at a Donald Trump rally.
The sing was played during a presidential campaign rally for Trump and vice president candidate JD Vance in Montana this week.
However, the statement confirmed that the use of the smash single for the campaign was “in no way authorised.”
In a statement posted to Celine’s Instagram, they insisted: “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorised usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana.”
