In a striking confrontation between music and politics, rock legend Jack White has fired a legal broadside at former US President Donald Trump. The blistering cease-and-desist notice comes after Trump's campaign used White's song, a cover of 'Love Is Blindness', in a video filmed within the hallowed confines of the Oval Office.
The incendiary video, which promotes Trump's political agenda, features the haunting track without permission. This has ignited a fierce response from the former White Stripes frontman, known for his stringent control over his artistic output.
A Forceful Legal and Moral Objection
Through his legal representatives, White delivered a unequivocal message: the use of his music is strictly forbidden. The letter emphasised that White's principles are fundamentally at odds with Trump's, making the unauthorised use a profound misrepresentation of the artist's work and values.
This is not the first time the Trump campaign has faced such a backlash. A long list of musical giants, from the estates of Tom Petty and Prince to living legends like Rihanna, Adele, and the Rolling Stones, have previously demanded he stop using their songs at rallies and events.
The Power of Artistic Control
The incident highlights a persistent tension in modern political campaigning—the desire to use popular music to create a specific atmosphere versus the artists' right to control where and how their creations are presented. For many musicians, having their work associated with a figure or cause they oppose is an unacceptable violation.
White's firm stance reinforces a clear boundary: a political campaign cannot simply appropriate cultural artefacts for its own benefit without consent. This latest cease-and-desist serves as another powerful reminder that an artist's voice extends beyond their lyrics and chords to include the very causes their work is used to support.
