Rock band Semisonic objects to White House using their song over video of shackled deportee

Celebrated US rock band Semisonic, who found international fame with the release of their second album ‘Feeling Strangely Fine’ in 1998, is pushing back at the White House for using their Grammy-nominated hit song ‘Closing Time’ off the same album over a social media post that shows a shackled deportee.

The White House added the song in a post of a man with his wrists handcuffed to his waist as he is patted down at an airport.

The video was captioned with the song’s lyrics: “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.”

“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 posted on X.

Asked about the post Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said “our entire government clearly is leaning into the message of this president.”

US Customs and Border Protection retweeted the White House's post on X with the caption “It's closing time. We are making America safe again.”

The Trump administration shared the video two days after hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members were controversially deported by the White House to a supermax prison in El Salvador.

US District Judge James E Boasberg had issued an order temporarily blocking the deportations on Saturday, but lawyers told him there were already two planes with immigrants in the air.

Semisonic joins a long list of musicians who have objected to Trump’s authorized use of their songs. These include ABBA, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Neil Young, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, Woodkid and Beyoncé.

Sinead O'Connor’s estate previously issued Trump with cease-and-desist orders, while Isaac Hayes’ estate sued him for 134 counts of copywright infringement.  

Céline Dion also condemned the use of her song from the Oscar-winning film Titanic, ‘My Heart Will Go On’, which was used at one of Trump’s rallies. Dion’s team questioned the song choice, writing: "And really, THAT song?” 

Another band which added their name to the ever-growing list of artists who have sued Trump over the illegal use of their songs in campaign videos was The White Stripes. Last year, the rock band highlighted the “flagrant misappropriation” of their hit song ‘Seven Nation Army’. Jack White captioned a copy of the legal complaint in an Instagram post with: “This machine sues fascists.”