The White Stripes Drop Lawsuit Against Donald Trump Over "Seven Nation Army"
Jack and Meg White, members of the now-dissolved band The White Stripes, have chosen to withdraw their copyright lawsuit against President-elect Donald Trump, just two months after filing it. The dispute arose over Trump's alleged unauthorized use of the band's song "Seven Nation Army" in a campaign video. The case dismissal was filed in New York federal court on Sunday, and no specific reason was provided for the withdrawal. Representatives for the Whites declined to comment further on the decision.
The incident began in late August when Margo Martin, then the deputy communications director for Trump's campaign, posted a video showing Trump boarding a plane with "Seven Nation Army" playing in the background. This prompted Jack White to publicly criticize Trump, posting a statement on social media expressing his anger. He called Trump's team "fascists" and sarcastically suggested that the lawsuit would join the many other legal challenges the campaign was facing.
In early September, The White Stripes formally filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Trump, Martin, and the campaign, claiming that their song had been misused to support Trump's political image. The complaint argued that the campaign used "Seven Nation Army" to bolster Trump's public profile and encourage donations and support, without obtaining the necessary permissions. In the filing, the duo made it clear that they viewed the use of their music as particularly offensive, given their strong opposition to Trump's policies and public stance. They highlighted that this wasn't the first time Trump's supporters had misused the song: a similar incident occurred in 2016, when a pro-Trump video featured "Seven Nation Army," leading the Whites to issue a statement distancing themselves from the campaign.
Trump's use of popular music for political events and videos has sparked ongoing disputes with several artists, including bands like Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones, who have also opposed his use of their music. Artists argue not only for their copyright protections but also for the right to dissociate from a candidate or message they don't support.
Trump and his team have often ignored artists' requests to stop using their music. Recently, Trump has pledged to take action against his critics if elected, promising retribution against those who oppose him. While his supporters view these statements as a show of strength, critics worry about the implications of such threats.
With the lawsuit now dropped, The White Stripes end their legal challenge against Trump's campaign, though the case underscores the frequent tensions between political campaigns and artists' rights. The reason for the Whites' decision to withdraw remains unclear, but the matter illustrates the complexities involved when musicians seek to protect both their intellectual property and their public image.
