Musicians who stopped Trump from using their tunes

In 2023, lead singer of the Village People Victor Willis formally sent a cease-and-desist demanding that the former president stop what are alleged to be unauthorized performances of the band’s 1978 hit 'Macho Man' at his Mar-a-Lago resort. According to HuffPost, the letter was sent in response to a viral video clip which showed Trump dancing to a performance of the song by a group of men costumed as if they were the classic disco band. The letter argued that “many fans and the general public ... mistakenly believe” the group in the video is the actual Village People, and subsequently put Trump on notice for potential violation of US trademark law.

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Village People -

Members of the band have varying opinions about when Trump can use their music. In February 2020, the Village People allowed him to play their songs at rallies as long as the music wasn’t “being used for a specific endorsement," Huffpost reports. But in June that year, following the demonstrations related to the murder of George Floyd, Victor Willis changed his mind and asked Trump to stop playing their songs if he planned to sic the military on peaceful protesters.

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Phil Collins -

Phil Collins also sent a cease and desist letter to Trump's camp after the President's campaign blared his hit song 'In the Air Tonight' at a few of his rallies. The letter claims the song choice makes it seem like Collins is a Trump supporter, which he clarified he is not.

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Phil Collins -

In the legal document obtained by TMZ, Collins also criticizes the way Trump used his song to make light of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that he doesn't condone trivializing COVID-19.

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Neil Young -

Neil Young was the first rock star to rebel against Trump. His single 'Rockin' in the Free World' was used during Trump's presidential campaign announcement at Trump Tower.

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Neil Young -

Young's team said Trump's usage was "not authorized," and that Young actually supported Bernie Sanders. Trump's campaign returned fire by providing receipts that showed they paid for the rights to use the song.

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Neil Young, again - Neil Young could be Trump's musical nemesis. In another statement, Young accused Trump of consistently playing 'Rockin' in the Free World,' despite saying he'd stop.

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"DT does not have my permission to use the song 'Rockin' in the Free World' at his appearances," Young said. "It goes against my wishes."

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Prince's estate - Back in October 2018, Prince's estate sent a warning to Trump and the White House, urging them to stop using his song, 'Purple Rain.' The Trump administration answered back, stating that they would not be using any of his music going forward in connection with the campaign.

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Prince's estate -

However, the Trump campaign broke that promise, as they used 'Purple Rain' yet again at his rally in Prince's hometown of Minneapolis on October 10, 2019. The Prince Estate took to Twitter to showcase the previous cease and desist letter.

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Hans Zimmer -

Trump soft-launched his first campaign for presidency with a video using Hans Zimmer’s song 'Why Do We Fall?' from 'The Dark Knight Rises' score to add a touch of that classic Zimmer gravitas.

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Hans Zimmer -

The video has since been removed from circulation after Warner Bros said they would take legal action due to the song's unauthorized use.

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R.E.M. - The alternative rockers weren't happy when Trump used their song 'It's the End of the World' at his campaign rallies.

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R.E.M. - Front man Michael Stipe attacked Trump on Twitter, "go f*** yourselves, the lot of you — you sad, attention grabbing, power-hungry little men." He went on to say "do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign."

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Twisted Sister - Twisted Sister are fronted by Dee Snider, who allowed Trump to use their song, 'We're Not Gonna Take It.' Originally, Snider thought Trump would "raise holy h*ll" in America's political system.

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Twisted Sister - However, after a while the band couldn't take it anymore. Snider called Trump "upsetting" and "extremist," while Jay Jay French said the band "couldn't in good faith allow Trump to keep using the song."

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Adele - During his 2016 campaign, Trump worked in a medley of Adele's hits, like 'Skyfall' and 'Rolling in the Deep.'

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Adele - Adele's spokesperson said she had "not given permission" for her songs to be used. The singer went on to endorse Hillary Clinton, telling concert goers "don't vote for him."

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Elton John - 'Rocket Man' and 'Tiny Dancer' became popular songs at Trump's rallies, yet Elton John is not a fan of the Republican.

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Elton John - "I've met Donald Trump, he was very nice to me, it's nothing personal," John explained. "His political views are his own, mine are very different, I'm not a Republican in a million years."

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The Rolling Stones - One of the more popular rally songs was 'You Can't Always Get What You Want,' by the Rolling Stones. After he got the Republican presidential candidate nominee, the campaign played 'Start It Up.'

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The Rolling Stones - The band has released statements asking Trump to "cease all use" of their tunes, and that they "do not endorse" Trump.

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Queen -

Queen's song 'We Are the Champions' was played when Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention.

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Queen - "I can confirm that permission to use the track was neither sought nor given," said Brian May. When the song was used again and again, the band released another disapproving statement.

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George Harrison's estate - The Beatles song 'Here Comes the Sun' was used at Trump's campaigns. George Harrison wrote the song, and his estate disapproved of the usage.

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George Harrison's estate - "It's offensive and against the wishes of the George Harrison estate," they tweeted. "If it had been 'Beware of Darkness,' then we may have approved it!"

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Luciano Pavarotti's estate - Like with Harrison, this opera singer's estate was unhappy when Trump used his song 'Nessun Dorma' during his rallies.

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Luciano Pavarotti's estate - Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, said that the singer's values were "incompatible with the world view embodied by Trump." The former president had previously claimed that he and Pavarotti were friends.

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Steven Tyler - As one quarter of Aerosmith, Steven Tyler made it his mission to stop Trump from using the band's songs.

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Steven Tyler - Trump used the Aerosmith hit 'Dream On' at his campaign rallies, which led Tyler's reps to fire off cease and desist letters. Trump hit back on Twitter, "even though I have the legal right to use Steven Tyler's song, he asked me not to. Have better one to take its place."

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Pharrell Williams - Trump's use of 'Happy' made Pharrell Williams pretty upset, leading him to send a cease-and-desist letter.

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Pharrell Williams - The song was played just hours after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, where 11 people were murdered. "Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music," his lawyer explained.

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Rihanna - In 2018, Rihanna endorsed Andrew Gillum as Florida governor. She later learned that her music was used for a Trump rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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Rihanna - Trump played 'Please Don't Stop the Music,' leading Rihanna to ask Trump to stop the music. "Me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies," she wrote on Twitter.

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Guns N' Roses - The song 'Sweet Child o' Mine' was played at a Trump rally in West Virginia in 2018. Axl Rose wasn't having it, so he accused Trump of cheating the system.

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Guns N' Roses -

"Unfortunately the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues' blanket performance licenses," Rose revealed.

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Village People -

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Village People -

Getty Images

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Phil Collins -

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Phil Collins -

In the legal document obtained by TMZ, Collins also criticizes the way Trump used his song to make light of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that he doesn't condone trivializing COVID-19.

Getty Images

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Neil Young -

Neil Young was the first rock star to rebel against Trump. His single 'Rockin' in the Free World' was used during Trump's presidential campaign announcement at Trump Tower.

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Neil Young -

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Neil Young, again - Neil Young could be Trump's musical nemesis. In another statement, Young accused Trump of consistently playing 'Rockin' in the Free World,' despite saying he'd stop.

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Neil Young, again -

"DT does not have my permission to use the song 'Rockin' in the Free World' at his appearances," Young said. "It goes against my wishes."

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Prince's estate -

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Hans Zimmer -

Trump soft-launched his first campaign for presidency with a video using Hans Zimmer’s song 'Why Do We Fall?' from 'The Dark Knight Rises' score to add a touch of that classic Zimmer gravitas.

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Hans Zimmer -

The video has since been removed from circulation after Warner Bros said they would take legal action due to the song's unauthorized use.

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R.E.M. - The alternative rockers weren't happy when Trump used their song 'It's the End of the World' at his campaign rallies.

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Adele - During his 2016 campaign, Trump worked in a medley of Adele's hits, like 'Skyfall' and 'Rolling in the Deep.'

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Adele - Adele's spokesperson said she had "not given permission" for her songs to be used. The singer went on to endorse Hillary Clinton, telling concert goers "don't vote for him."

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Elton John - 'Rocket Man' and 'Tiny Dancer' became popular songs at Trump's rallies, yet Elton John is not a fan of the Republican.

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The Rolling Stones - The band has released statements asking Trump to "cease all use" of their tunes, and that they "do not endorse" Trump.

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Queen -

Queen's song 'We Are the Champions' was played when Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention.

Getty Images

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Queen - "I can confirm that permission to use the track was neither sought nor given," said Brian May. When the song was used again and again, the band released another disapproving statement.

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George Harrison's estate - The Beatles song 'Here Comes the Sun' was used at Trump's campaigns. George Harrison wrote the song, and his estate disapproved of the usage.

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George Harrison's estate - "It's offensive and against the wishes of the George Harrison estate," they tweeted. "If it had been 'Beware of Darkness,' then we may have approved it!"

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Luciano Pavarotti's estate - Like with Harrison, this opera singer's estate was unhappy when Trump used his song 'Nessun Dorma' during his rallies.

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Steven Tyler - As one quarter of Aerosmith, Steven Tyler made it his mission to stop Trump from using the band's songs.

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Pharrell Williams - Trump's use of 'Happy' made Pharrell Williams pretty upset, leading him to send a cease-and-desist letter.

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Rihanna - In 2018, Rihanna endorsed Andrew Gillum as Florida governor. She later learned that her music was used for a Trump rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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Rihanna - Trump played 'Please Don't Stop the Music,' leading Rihanna to ask Trump to stop the music. "Me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies," she wrote on Twitter.

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Guns N' Roses - The song 'Sweet Child o' Mine' was played at a Trump rally in West Virginia in 2018. Axl Rose wasn't having it, so he accused Trump of cheating the system.

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Guns N' Roses -

"Unfortunately the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues' blanket performance licenses," Rose revealed.

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Musicians who stopped Trump from using their tunes

Sinéad O'Connor's estate has asked Trump not to use the late singer's music

10/04/19 | Reuben Tasker

MUSIC Politics

Few presidents have polarized the world like former president Donald Trump. Once the world's most powerful man, Trump has always been a controversial figure. At his rallies, Trump has played some of the most iconic music ever, much to the dismay of many iconic musicians who don't support his policies or rhetoric one bit. With his 2016, 2020, and now 2024 campaign, he continues to run into the same problem.

In February 2024, Trump held a campaign rally in Maryland during which the famous Sinéad O'Connor song 'Nothing Compares 2 U' was played. Shortly after, O'Connor's estate and longtime record label Chrysalis Records released a joint statement demanding that Trump cease using her music at his events. "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 who she herself referred to as a 'biblical devil,'" it read. "As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump, and his associates desist from using her music immediately." O'Connor sadly passed away at the age of 56 in July 2023.

Click through to meet the other musicians who have tried to stop Trump from using their songs.