The Foo Fighters are not happy with Donald Trump, and they’re making it clear. On Friday (Aug. 23), at a rally in Glendale, Arizona, Trump used the band’s iconic 1997 hit “My Hero” to bring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on stage.
But there’s just one big problem: the Foo Fighters never gave permission for their song to be used, and they certainly wouldn’t have if asked.
A spokesperson for the band told Billboard that the use of “My Hero” was unauthorized, and they’re taking action against Trump’s campaign. To make a statement, any royalties earned from this usage will be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign.
During the rally, Trump introduced Kennedy as “a very low-key person” before the chorus of “My Hero” blasted through the speakers.
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“He’s highly respected. He is a great person. I’ve known him for so long. For the past 16 months. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.”
Trump added, as fireworks lit up the stage.
The band made their stance crystal clear on social media. When asked by the X account “Wu-Tang Is for the Children” if they allowed Trump to use “My Hero,” the Foo Fighters responded with a simple, “No.” They also posted the exchange to their account, adding, “Let us be clear.”
This isn’t the first time Trump’s campaign has faced backlash for using music without permission. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday (Aug. 22), Trump’s team posted a video of him stepping off a plane with Beyoncé’s “Freedom” playing in the background. The video was later deleted after Beyoncé’s label and publisher sent a cease-and-desist notice.
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And just a couple of weeks ago, on Aug. 11, lawyers for the Isaac Hayes estate filed a copyright infringement notice against Trump’s campaign for using “Hold On, I’m Coming” at multiple rallies without authorization.
It looks like the Trump campaign has a pattern of using music without asking, and artists are fighting back.