The White Stripes recently ended their federal lawsuit against Donald Trump for unauthorized use of ‘Seven Nation Army.’ The song played in a campaign video posted by Trump’s deputy director of communications, Margo Martin, in August.
Jack and Meg White dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, meaning they could file it again, as reported by Pitchfork. The band’s lawyer did not comment on the dismissal.
Martin since deleted the campaign video on which Jack wrote last summer, “Oh… Don’t even think about using my music you fascists. Lawsuit coming from my lawyers about this.”
The Whites initially filed a lawsuit accusing Trump’s administration of six counts of copyright infringement. They claimed their attempts to resolve the issue were ignored before it went to court.
The documents also noted the band’s disagreement with Trump’s policies during his first run as the president. Jack White repeated their opposition to his second term that started following last week’s election on social media.
The singer wrote on Instagram that he found it ‘absolutely dumbfounding’ that Trump was elected again. “Americans chose a known, obvious fascist and now America will get whatever this wannabe dictator wants to enact from here on in,” his post read.
“We all know what he is capable of: Project 2025, deportations, nationwide abortion ban, ending his own two-term limit, backing Putin and his war, shutting down the Board of Education, adding to climate change, limiting LGBTQ rights, controlling the DOJ, keeping the minimum wage down, etc.”
The White Stripes and Donald Trump’s campaign clashed during the 2016 election period as well.
The band criticized the President over another use of ‘Seven Nation Army’ by saying they were “disgusted by this association, and by the illegal use of their song.” They later sold T-shirts reading ‘ICKY TRUMP,’ a play on their 2007 album title, ‘Icky Thump.’