It’s no secret that music and politics have a complicated relationship. Over the years, various political figures have tried to score a little rock ‘n’ roll cred by blasting popular tunes at rallies. Donald Trump, ever the showman, has been particularly notorious for picking anthems that get the crowd fired up. The only problem? The artists themselves often wish he’d stop before the first chorus. Turns out, if the man had his way, his playlist would look a little different. And by different, we mean totally non-existent.
In the grand tradition of sticking it to the man (or at least trying to stick it to the man), several legendary musicians have declined Trump’s, uh, “use” of their music. In fact, if there’s a Greatest Hits album of “Songs Trump Can’t Play,” it’s as star-studded as the Grammys.
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” – The Rolling Stones
Let’s start with The Rolling Stones, because, in a stunning twist of irony, Trump used “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” repeatedly. Apparently, no one in his camp understood Mick Jagger’s prophecy, because they went right on using it. That is, until the band rolled up with a cease-and-desist notice. It’s unclear whether Trump understood the message or thought Jagger was just a bad negotiator. But in the end, like Mick said: “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find… a new playlist.”
“We Are the Champions”—Queen (But Not Trump’s Champion)
Next, we have Queen, a band with songs more anthemic than the American flag itself. Trump tried to use “We Are the Champions” as his personal victory lap, but Brian May swiftly let him know that Trump was not, in fact, his champion. This led to the one and only time where Freddie Mercury’s vocal power was upstaged—not by a singer, but by a copyright lawyer.
One wonders if Trump’s fallback was “Bohemian Rhapsody”, because if ever there was a story about chaos, desperation, and not wanting to go to court, it’s that one.
“Born to Run”… Away from Trump – Bruce Springsteen
The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, was another casualty in Trump’s musical grab bag. If there’s one thing everyone knows about Springsteen, it’s that his lyrics are all about blue-collar struggles and the heart of the American working man. If there’s a second thing, it’s that “Born to Run” is not exactly a song that pairs well with a golden escalator. When Springsteen found out that Trump was using his music, he took one look at that scenario and was like, baby, we were born to sue.
“R.E.M.”: Losing His Music in Real Time
Trump might’ve been “shiny and happy” when he first cranked up R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”—but Michael Stipe? Not so much. Stipe fired back harder than a drum fill, telling Trump to “go f*** himself,” which is both clear and concise. That line, unfortunately, didn’t make the final cut of the song.
It’s kind of fitting, really. If anyone is ever accused of trying to make it feel like “the end of the world as we know it,” it’s a guy who thought using R.E.M.’s music would end in smiles.
“Don’t Stop” – Fleetwood Mac (But Really, Do Stop)
There’s a beautiful irony in Trump using Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Don’t Stop” during his campaign. The song’s lyrics, “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow,” were meant to inspire optimism. For Fleetwood Mac, tomorrow came in the form of a restraining order. We can only assume Stevie Nicks channeled the energy of “Rhiannon” as she whispered into her lawyer’s ear: “Make him stop.”
Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. After all, Trump probably did spend a lot of time thinking about tomorrow. The tomorrow when he could finally play a Fleetwood Mac song without someone throwing a legal gavel at his head.
Adele: Not “Rolling in the Deep” with Trump
You might think Adele would be flattered to hear “Rolling in the Deep” played at full blast during a Trump event. But as it turns out, Adele was not exactly “rolling” with this idea. Upon learning that Trump was using her smash hit, she quickly sent a message that sounded a lot like one of her choruses: “We could have had it all… if you’d only asked.”
The next time Trump needed to set the mood, Adele’s ballad was replaced by the sound of silence—and not the Paul Simon kind. Just actual silence.
Pharrell: Not Happy
Even Pharrell Williams, the man behind one of the most infectious modern-day hits, got caught up in Trump’s jukebox nightmare. “Happy” may be a global anthem for joy, but Pharrell was anything but when he heard it being used at a Trump rally. His response was sharp: “There’s nothing happy about it, stop using my music.”
We can only imagine that Pharrell sent that message while wearing his famous hat—a hat which, frankly, had a better legal argument than Trump did.
Neil Young: Not Rockin’ in the Free World with Trump
And then there’s Neil Young, who had to set the record straight when Trump began blasting “Rockin’ in the Free World” during his events. Young pointed out that the song was a critique of American politics and economic disparity—not exactly the rally cry Trump might’ve been looking for. It’s a bit like showing up to a barbecue with a tofu burger—you’re just not getting the vibe.
We can’t say for sure how Trump reacted to Neil Young’s protest, but let’s just assume there was some Southern Man shade thrown along the way.
Conclusion: When the Music Stops
In the end, Donald Trump’s rally playlist has become the most exclusive in history—for all the wrong reasons. If anyone’s keeping score, the only artists who seem left are elevator-music composers and that guy who played the kazoo solo on YouTube. But hey, even if the artists don’t want him, there’s always a karaoke machine somewhere ready to belt out “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Just maybe not in front of 10,000 people… and definitely not in front of Mick Jagger’s lawyer.
