On Friday, August 23, 2024, the Donald Trump campaign used a Foo Fighters song at a campaign rally. The band has said that they did not give the Trump campaign permission to use their song, while the Trump campaign claims that its use of the song was not unauthorized. At a rally with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Glendale, Arizona, the former president and Republican presidential nominee used the song "My Hero" by Foo Fighters.
The band was asked about the use of the song at the rally on X. "Hey
@foofighters, did you let Trump use 'My Hero' to welcome RFK Jr. on stage," someone asked the band on the platform.
Responding with "no" was not enough for the band — they wanted their message to be clear, so they also shared a screenshot of the conversation. "Let us be clear," Foo Fighters wrote when sharing the screenshot.
A representative for the band also said that the Trump campaign did not ask for permission to use the song at the rally.
"Foo Fighters were not asked permission and if they were, they would have not granted it," the spokesperson told CBS News. The representative added that "any royalties received as a result of this use will be donated" to Kamala Harris' campaign, per USA Today.
More from LittleThings: Céline Dion Reacts To Donald Trump's Unauthorized Use Of Her Music: 'Really, THAT Song?'
Though the rock band says the Trump campaign's usage of the song was unauthorized, the Trump campaign has disputed these claims. Donald Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung took to X to address the allegations, and used some of the band's lyrics when calling them out.
"It’s Times Like These facts matter, don’t be a Pretender.
@foofighters," Steven wrote on X, sharing an article from The Independent that read, "Trump campaign insists it had right to use Foo Fighters song, despite backlash."
According to the outlet, a Trump campaign spokesperson said, "We have a license to play the song."
The Foo Fighters are among the many musicians who have opposed the Trump campaign's use of their music at campaign events.
Earlier this month, Céline Dion responded to the Trump campaign's "unauthorized" use of her song "My Heart Will Go On." At a rally in Bozeman, Montana, the Trump campaign showed a video of Céline performing the song, which is widely known as the theme song to the 1997 film Titanic.
"In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use," a statement shared on the singer's Instagram said. "…And really, THAT song?"
