The White Stripes are suing former President Donald J. Trump over the unauthorized use of their 2003 Elephant song “Seven Nation Army” in a campaign video posted last month by Margo Martin, Trump’s deputy director of communications. Both Meg and Jack White are listed as co-plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which lists six counts of copyright infringement.
The lawsuit states that Trump and his campaign “chose to ignore and not respond to Plaintiffs’ pre-litigation efforts to resolve the matters at issue in this action,” and have instead “indiscriminately trampled on Plaintiffs’ legal rights.” It also states that the White Stripes “vehemently oppose the policies adopted and actions taken by Defendant Trump when he was President and those he has proposed for the second term he seeks.”
The lawsuit, filed today in a New York federal court, makes good on Jack White’s promise to take legal action against Trump and his campaign. In a post on Instagram today, he wrote, “This machine sues fascists.” Pitchfork has reached out to the White Stripes’ representatives and attorney, Robert A. Jacobs, for additional comment.