In an unexpected turn of events, The White Stripes have decided to drop their copyright infringement lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. The rock duo, consisting of Jack and Meg White, had initially filed the suit in September over the unauthorized use of their hit song "Seven Nation Army" in a Trump campaign video.
The lawsuit stemmed from a 10-second clip shared on social media by Margo Martin, the Deputy Director of Communications for Trump's Save America PAC. The video, which featured Trump boarding a plane, was set to the iconic opening riff of "Seven Nation Army" and garnered approximately 65,000 views before coming to the band's attention.
Jack White, known for his outspoken criticism of Trump, had initially responded to the video with a stern warning on Instagram, stating, "Don't even think about using my music you fascists." He followed through on his threat, and the band filed a lawsuit accusing Trump and his team of "flagrant misappropriation" of their music.
However, just days after Trump's victory in the 2024 presidential election, The White Stripes' lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The one-sentence motion requested that the case be dismissed "without prejudice," leaving open the possibility for the band to refile the lawsuit in the future if they choose to do so.
The timing of the withdrawal has raised eyebrows, coming so soon after Trump's electoral win. While the exact reasons for dropping the lawsuit remain unclear, it's worth noting that such dismissals often occur when parties reach an out-of-court agreement or settlement.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between musicians and political campaigns over the use of copyrighted music. Many artists have objected to their songs being used in political contexts without permission, particularly when they disagree with the candidate's views or policies.
As of now, neither The White Stripes nor Trump's team have publicly commented on the dismissal of the lawsuit. The music world and political observers alike will be watching closely to see if this marks the end of the dispute or if further developments are yet to come.