The White Stripes have re-joined forces to sue former US President Donald Trump for the alleged unauthorised use of their iconic tune, Seven Nation Army, during his current presidential campaign.
The popular 2000s rockers are suing based on the alleged unauthorised use of Seven Nation Army in a campaign video posted by Margo Martin, Donald Trump’s Deputy Director of Communications, last month. Pitchfork reports that Jack White and Meg White are listed as co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which contains six counts of copyright infringement.
On the first page of the lawsuit, which Jack White posted to Instagram today (10 September), the document reads:
“This lawsuit seeks redress for a presidential candidate’s flagrant misappropriation of the musical composition and sound recording Seven Nation Army … by the White Stripes, which are among the most well-known and influential musical works of all time,” per The Tennessean.
Jack White’s caption on Instagram reads, “This machine sues fascists.”
According to the lawsuit, Jack White and Meg White claim that nobody from the Trump campaign, including the former president himself and Margo Martin, sought a licence to use Seven Nation Army in their videos, and “even if they had, Plaintiffs would not have given them one because Plaintiffs do not endorse, and do not want to be associated with Defendants in any manner.”
Jack White and Meg White also alleged that the Trump campaign ignored “pre-litigation efforts to resolve the matters,” which left them with no option but to file their lawsuit. The pair alleged that the campaign video violated American federal copyright laws.
Last month, Jack White threatened Donald Trump with a lawsuit for allegedly using The White Stripes’ music without permission in the aforementioned campaign video.
“Oh….Don’t even think about using my music, you fascists,” the singer and guitarist wrote on Instagram last month (30 August). “Lawsuit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.) Have a great day at work today, Margo Martin.”
He added, “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 White Stripes aren’t the only ones slamming Donald Trump for the use of their music.
During the 2024 Trump presidential campaign, Beyoncé’s team sent the Trump campaign a cease-and-desist notice, Celine Dion claimed the use of My Heart Will Go On was unauthorised (and she personally disapproved), Foo Fighters with My Hero, and ABBA demanded the Trump campaign stop using their music at rallies.
Jack White will return to Australia this December, playing at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel on Saturday, 7 December, and Ballarat’s Civic Hall the night before. Both shows are presented by ALWAYS LIVE.
