White House criticized by rock band Semisonic for using song in video
The White House is under fire for using the rock band Semisonic’s 1998 hit song “Closing Time” without permission in a deportation video.
Minneapolis rock band Semisonic is protesting the White House’s use of its song “Closing Time” in a video showing a handcuffed deportee posted on social media.
The video, posted Monday on X – the social media platform owned by Elon Musk and previously known as Twitter – shows a shackled man being frisked followed by several men being led onto a plane with the words “Border Patrol” in the foreground.
Lyrics from the song “Closing Time,” are heard as the shackled man is shown: “Closing time, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.” The lyrics are also written in the online post, along with a link to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection account on X. Then, as the video shows men climbing the aircraft steps, the lyrics, “I know who I want to take me home,” are heard.
The Customs and Border Protection retweeted the post on X adding the caption: “It’s closing time. We are making America safe again.”
On Monday afternoon, Semisonic posted a note on its X account, saying: “We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song ‘Closing Time’ in any way. And no, they didn’t ask. The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely.”
The song, “Closing Time,” is from the band’s 1998 album “Feeling Strangely Fine.” The single was No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart for five weeks and hit No. 8 on its Pop Airplay chart.
When asked about the post on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “our entire government clearly is leaning into the message of this president,” The Associated Press reported.
Last month, the White House posted another controversial video called “ASMR: Illegal Alien Deportation Flight,” which showed chains and manacles being laid out on a tarmac as a nearby jet is warming up. A man is shown being shackled and walking up the flight steps.
Semisonic latest artist to object to Trump’s use of music
Semisonic is just the latest musician or band to object to the use of their music by the Trump administration or campaign.
Other artists – some who have sent cease-and-desist letters or threatened suits – include Aerosmith, Beyoncé, Phil Collins, Celine Dion, John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, Elton John, Linkin Park, Panic! At The Disco, R.E.M., Rhianna, the Rolling Stones, The Smiths, The White Stripes, Pharrell Williams, Neil Young, and the estates of Prince, Sinéad O’Connor, and Tom Petty.
“Closing Time” is written by Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, who last month won a Grammy for best song written for visual media (“It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony,” a documentary starring Jon Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad). The song was also nominated in 2024 for best original song Oscar.
In 2024, Wilson won a Grammy for best country song for co-writing “White Horse,” with Chris Stapleton. He also co-wrote and produced “Treacherous” for Taylor Swift’s 2012 album “Red.”
This story was updated with a new promo image.
Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse.
Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky and X: mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider.
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