- Music
- 05 Nov 18
The Bajan singer is the latest artist objecting to the US President playing their music at his rallies without consent
At n rally in Tennessee on Sunday, US President Donald Trump played her 2007 hit ‘Don’t Stop The Music’. It comes ahead of Tuesday’s mid-term elections where voters will elect a new House of Representatives and one-third of the 100-seat Senate.
On Sunday, Washington Post White House bureau chief Philip Rucker tweeted: “It’s been said a million times, but here’s a million and one - Trump’s rallies are unlike anything else in politics. Currently, Rihanna’s ‘Don’t Stop The Music’ is blaring in Chattanooga as aides toss free Trump t-shirts into the crowd, like a ball game. Everyone’s loving it.”
Rihanna was quick to respond, tweeting: “Not for much longer…me nor my people would ever be at or around one of these tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up Philip!”
The Grammy-winner is not the first to condemn Trump for promoting a cause they do not agree with. Just days before the midterms, Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose also denounced Trump on Twitter.
In a lengthy rant, Rose declared: “Just so ya know... GNR like a lot of artists opposed to the unauthorised use of their music at political events has formally requested r music not b used at Trump rallies or Trump associated events, Unfortunately the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues’ blanket performance licenses which were not intended for such craven political purposes, without the songwriters’ consent. Can u say 'shitbags?!'"
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Further in the day, Rose tweeted: “As far as I’m concerned anyone can enjoy GNR 4 whatever reason n’ there’s truth 2 the saying 'u can’t choose your fans' n’ we’re good w/that," he tweeted. "Having said that my personal position is that the Trump administration along w/the majority of Republicans in Congress n’ their donors that support him 4 their own agendas r doing r nation a disservice."
"We have an individual in the WH that will say n’ do anything w/no regard for truth, ethics, morals or empathy of any kind, who says what’s real is fake n’ what’s fake is real.”
"Most of us in America have never experienced anything this obscene at this level in r lifetimes n’ if we as a country don’t wake up n’ put an end 2 this nonsense now it’s something we definitely will all pay hard 4 as time goes on."
The tweets come on the back of Pharrell Williams sending a cease-and-desist letter to Trump over the use of his song ‘Happy’. The letter said: “Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music.”