Donald Trump’s team clapped back at Foo Fighters today. The band wasn’t happy their hit “My Hero” played at a rally without permission.
“It’s Times Like These facts matter, don’t be a Pretender,” Trump’s rep Steven Cheung said on X. He used Foo Fighters’ song titles to make his point.
The rally happened in Arizona, with Robert Kennedy Jr. by Trump’s side. Foo Fighters quickly voiced their displeasure, but Trump’s camp insists they had the right. They claim they licensed the song from BMI.
Cheung even shared a UK newspaper’s backing. The Independent stated they saw documents confirming the campaign licensed the song.
“We have a license to play the song,” Cheung firmly stated.
This isn’t new territory. Campaigns, especially Republican ones, often clash with artists over music at rallies. Some get blanket licenses, but artists can still object. They can exclude songs or claim other legal grounds to stop the use.
Trump has faced many such objections over the years. Recently, Celine Dion’s team pushed back against using “My Heart Will Go On.” Isaac Hayes’ family also threatened legal action over “Hold On, I’m Coming.”
It’s been a recurring issue across all Trump’s presidential runs. From 2015, when Neil Young objected to “Rockin’ in the Free World,” to 2020 when The Rolling Stones threatened legal action over “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
Musicians, including the Stones, Elton John, and R.E.M., penned a letter urging campaigns to seek artists’ consent before using their music. This plea came from artists across genres and eras.
The clash over rally music isn’t new. Back in 1984, Ronald Reagan tried to align with Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” but the Boss wasn’t having it. This ongoing battle between politics and music continues to make headlines.