Rock Band Criticizes White House For Using Its Song In Deportation Video: 'Missed The Point Entirely'

A 1990s rock band is the latest to criticize the White House and President Donald Trump for using one of its songs without permission, which was a common occurrence during the 2024 presidential election cycle.

What Happened: Rock band Semisonic, known best for their hit song "Closing Time" joins the list of bands and musicians like Celine Dion, The White Stripes and the Foo Fighters who have spoken out against Trump's use of their music.

"Closing Time" was released in 1998 and is the band's biggest hit, climbing to number one on the U.S. Alternative chart and hitting number 13 on the U.S. Mainstream chart.

The band's lead singer Dan Wilson said the song was written about the birth of his first child.

Over the years, the song has become an end-of-the-night anthem to close out bars, weddings and parties with its lyrics like "one last call for alcohol" and "I know who I want to take me home."

On Monday, the song was used by the White House and Border Patrol in a deportation video clip with the caption, "You don't have to go home but you can't stay here" on social media, using lyrics from Wilson.

The band said the song was used without their permission and misinterpreted the meaning of the song.

"We did not authorize or condone the White House's use of our song in any way. And no they didn't ask. The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely," the band said in a statement to Variety.

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Why It's Important: The White Stripes previously filed a lawsuit against Trump for the use of its song "Seven Nation Army" in a social media post that was later deleted.

While many people know Trump loves to dance to The Village People music, the band has also accused Trump of using its songs without permission for years before later embracing him and performing at Trump events.

The Village People performed at a Trump inauguration event, with founding member Victor Willis sharing why the band had agreed to support the president.  

"Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost," Willis said in a social media post.

Trump used the 1998 Foo Fighters song "My Hero" to welcome Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign rally.

The band later said they were not asked permission to use the song and would not have if asked. The band also said they would donate any royalties they receive for Trump's use of the song to his 2024 election competitor Kamala Harris.

A judge ordered Trump to stop using Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming" song at election rallies. The order came after the family of Isaac Hayes, who wrote the song, demanded damages for the unauthorized use of the song at campaign events.

Monday's use of the Semisonic song continued a pattern of the president using whatever songs he wants without securing permission, paying royalties or following typical music usage rules.

Using songs and displaying videos of deportation videos has generated plenty of feedback with supporters praising the move and non-supporters calling out the lack of human empathy.

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