'This machine sues fascists': White Stripes sue Trump for using music in campaign

The White Stripes are suing former President Donald Trump and his campaign for unlawfully using audio from their hit song, "Seven Nation Army," in a video posted on social media.

Jack White and Meg White, as the White Stripes, sued Trump, his campaign and his deputy director of communications Margo McAtee Martin Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for using their hit song "Seven Nation Army."

In an Instagram post announcing the lawsuit, Jack White said "This machine sues fascists."

Trump’s social media team published a video Aug. 29 of him boarding an aircraft with the caption “President @realDonaldTrump departs for Michigan and Wisconsin” with the introductory riff of “Seven National Army” playing. The video appears to have been since taken down, but has been reposted by other accounts.

In the lawsuit, the Whites called the use of the song a “flagrant misappropriation" and said the song was used to help bolster Trump's public image and generate support for his campaign on the backs of the White Stripes without their permission or endorsement.

Trump and his campaign team should know this violated the Copyright Act, especially because the White Stripes denounced the unauthorized use of the song in a campaign video in 2016, according to the lawsuit. The campaign has ignored the White Stripes’ attempts to resolve the matter without litigation.

“Defendants did not seek a license from Plaintiffs to use the 7NA Works, but, even if they had, Plaintiffs would not have given them one because Plaintiffs do not endorse, and do not want to be associated with Defendants in any manner,” according to the lawsuit. “In total disregard of those considerations and Plaintiffs’ rights under federal law, Defendants decided that they would rather ask for forgiveness than seek permission, and incorporated the famous riff from the 7NA Works in the Infringing Trump Videos without asking for authorization to do so.”

The White Stripes are asking for the court to stop Trump from using the song and to award any damages it deems warranted.

Jack White threatened Trump with litigation on Instagram the day the video was posted.

"Oh….Don't even think about using my music you fascists," Jack White wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday, which was linked to the offending post. "Law suit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.)"

Jack White is not alone in threatening or filing legal action against Trump and his team for unauthorized use of their music. In recent weeks, Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen and Prince’s estate have expressed concerns about their songs being used in promotional material or at campaign events.

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