The White Stripes’ legal team expressed that Trump’s unapproved use of their famous song was “offensive” to the band. However, they acknowledged that pursuing a copyright lawsuit is costly and would likely require years to reach a resolution. Given these challenges, they decided to step back from the legal battle.
Less than a week after Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election, The White Stripes decided to drop their copyright lawsuit, which alleged that Trump used their hit song “Seven Nation Army” in a social media post without proper licensing.
The lawsuit, originally filed in September by band members Jack White and Meg White, accused Trump and his campaign of the “flagrant misappropriation” of a song they described as one of the “most well-known and influential musical works of all time.” When first announcing the legal action, Jack White expressed strong disapproval of Trump’s actions, even referring to him as a “fascist.”
On Sunday, The White Stripes’ legal team submitted a brief, one-sentence motion, effectively ending the lawsuit. Filed “without prejudice,” the motion allows the band the option to reopen the case at a later date if they choose. However, this type of filing generally suggests that the band does not plan to pursue the matter further, signaling a likely conclusion to the case.
The White Stripes joined a chorus of artists who publicly condemned Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, for using their music without permission during his 2024 campaign. Alongside them, high-profile musicians and estates such as Beyoncé, Celine Dion, the Foo Fighters, ABBA, and Sinead O’Connor’s estate also voiced their disapproval of the former president’s use of their songs.
Jack White initially spoke out on social media, condemning the Trump campaign after a video surfaced showing Trump boarding a plane to the iconic bass riff of “Seven Nation Army.” The clip, shared by Trump’s deputy director of communications on Instagram and X, prompted White to issue a strong warning: “Don’t even think about using my music, you fascists.” Two weeks later, White took formal action, filing a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan.
The lawsuit claimed that Trump’s use of the band’s song not only infringed on their copyright but also harmed The White Stripes by falsely suggesting they supported Trump’s bid for re-election.
“The new association with defendant Trump that defendants have foisted upon plaintiffs through the infringing Trump videos is even more offensive to plaintiffs because plaintiffs vehemently oppose the policies adopted and actions taken by defendant Trump when he was President and those he has proposed for the second term he seeks,” attorneys for the White Stripes wrote.
On Sunday, shortly after Trump’s recent victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, The White Stripes’ legal team filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit. The filing, as is common in voluntary dismissals, did not provide any reasons for the decision, and the band’s attorney declined to comment.
Despite Trump’s win, there was no legal obligation to drop the case. Presidential immunity—often discussed regarding Trump’s criminal cases—would not have protected him from lawsuits related to actions taken before he took office. Even if his new role made pursuing him directly more challenging, the case could still have continued against his campaign organization (Donald J. Trump for President 2024 Inc.) and the staffer, Margo McAtee Martin, who posted the clip.
However, with the election concluded, it’s possible the band felt the effort was no longer worthwhile. Federal copyright cases can be drawn-out and extremely costly, especially when managed by high-profile attorneys from elite firms like Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, which represented The White Stripes. Jack and Meg White could have pursued significant damages for the unauthorized use of “Seven Nation Army,” potentially over $100,000 in statutory damages or more in actual damages, which could have offset their legal expenses.
However, the primary purpose of the lawsuit may have been to make a public statement and prevent further use of the song, objectives that may now feel less pressing with the campaign season behind them.
After last week’s election results, Jack White voiced his frustration on Instagram, saying, “Trump won the popular vote. End of story. Americans have chosen a known, obvious fascist, and now America will have to deal with whatever this wannabe dictator decides to implement.”
Meanwhile, Trump and his campaign continue to face additional copyright battles. The estate of Isaac Hayes has filed a lawsuit against Trump, alleging unauthorized use of Hayes’ song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign rallies and in promotional videos. This case is still in its early stages.
Additionally, a copyright lawsuit from the 2020 election remains unresolved. Musician Eddy Grant sued Trump for using his song “Electric Avenue” without permission. Recently, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s use of the song did indeed violate copyright law. However, the amount Trump must pay in damages will be determined in future court proceedings.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the dismissal of The White Stripes’ case.
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