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The White Stripes sue Donald Trump for “blatant” copyright infringement

They will never be friends, never.

White Stripes rocker Jack White made good on his recent promise to sue Donald Trump, filing a copyright infringement lawsuit Monday alongside bandmate Meg White over Trump's unauthorized use of the duo's classic rock anthem “Seven Nation Army” in a campaign video.

According to the complaint, Rolling StoneTrump and his team are guilty of “blatant misuse” of the hit song when they used its “extremely distinctive and instantly recognizable introductory riff” as the soundtrack for a video showing Trump boarding a plane to the crucial swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin. The lawsuit alleges that Trump's team shared the video on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Instagram to add “energy,” “excitement” and money to his campaign.

“This machine sues fascists,” White wrote in an Instagram post on Monday announcing the lawsuit. In a related post two weeks ago, White shared the controversial video clip, vowed to sue and sent Trump a “double fuck you” after one of his staffers allegedly shoved a staff member at Arlington National Cemetery during a visit to the burial site on Aug. 26.

“Oh…don't even think about using my music, you fascists. My lawyers will sue you for this. [to add to your 5 thousand others]”, White wrote in the post. “And while I'm here, a double fuck you, DonOLD, for insulting our nation's veterans at Arlington, you scum. You should lose the vote of every military family immediately if ANYTHING makes sense anymore.”

Trump, his campaign team and his spokeswoman Margo Martin are named as defendants in the new lawsuit, which seeks “significant financial damages.” (Trump’s campaign team did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone(Requested comment.) One of the lawyers representing Trump in his dispute with the estate of Isaac Hayes over Trump's use of “Hold On, I'm Coming” said he is also representing Trump in the White Stripes' lawsuit. “This office is handling the matter,” Trump's attorney, Ronald Coleman of the Dhillon Law Group, said in an email response sent Monday afternoon. “We have not yet had a chance to review the allegations.”

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The presidential candidate is no stranger to criticism from a long list of artists who speak out against his use of their music. In a similar case, Beyoncé recently threatened legal action after a Trump spokesperson used her song “Freedom” in a video showing Trump disembarking from a plane. Although Beyoncé gave Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign permission to use the song, a source close to the musician said: Rolling Stone They gave Trump's campaign “absolutely no permission,” and Bey's label threatened to cease and desist. Other musicians and estate administrators who do not want Trump to use their music include Céline Dion, the Foo Fighters, Neil Young, ABBA, the Village People and the estate of Sinéad O'Connor.

In their lawsuit filed Monday, the White Stripes said “Seven Nation Army” is “among the most well-known and influential musical works of all time.” They said Trump and his campaign sought to use the song to “burnish” his public image and “generate financial and other support for his campaign and candidacy on the backs of plaintiffs whose permission and support he neither sought nor received, thereby violating their rights under federal copyright law.”

The duo further criticized Trump for the alleged copyright infringement, saying he is a “self-proclaimed, experienced and successful businessman with decades of experience in the entertainment industry.” They said it was particularly egregious after they “publicly denounced” his use of the same song during his 2016 election campaign, adding they were “disgusted by this association.”

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“Plaintiffs strongly oppose the policies and actions of Defendant Trump during his presidency and those he proposes for his sought second term,” said the complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan.

The lawsuit alleges that the infringing video garnered at least 65,000 views and 700 reposts within hours of first appearing on X. “Through discovery, plaintiffs will determine the amount of financial contributions attributable to the infringing Trump videos,” the lawsuit states, calling for a jury trial.

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