Semisonic blasts White House for using their song 'Closing Time'
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Attorneys for the ACLU demanded the Trump administration provide sworn declarations on whether officials ignored an immigration ruling. The Trump administration contends that District Judge James E. Boasberg's verbal direction did not count.
NEW YORK - Rock band Semisonic is pushing back at the White House for using their hit song "Closing Time," over a social media post that shows shackled deportees getting patted down at an airport.
The video was captioned with the song’s lyrics: "You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here."
Semisonic pushes back at White House’s use of their song
What they're 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 power pop trio from the Twin Cities said in a statement on X.
The other side:
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the song on Monday and said "our entire government clearly is leaning into the message of this president."
John Munson and Dan Wilson of Semisonic band, performs during the day 02 of Vive Latino 2024 festival at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on March 17, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico.(Credit: Medios y Media/Getty Images)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection retweeted the White House's post on X with the caption "It's closing time. We are making America safe again."
Trump deports hundreds of Venezuelan migrants
The backstory:
The Trump administration flew hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador over the weekend despite a judge’s order temporarily barring them from being deported under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, the wartime declaration that President Donald Trump invoked.
Trump invoked the act on Saturday to target members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang for mass deportations. He repeatedly hinted during his campaign that he would declare extraordinary powers to confront illegal immigration and laid additional groundwork in a slew of executive orders on Jan. 20.
Performers object to Trump’s use of their songs
Dig deeper:
"Closing Time" is from Semisonic's 1998 album, "Feeling Strangely Fine," which peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The song hit No. 4 on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart and earned a Grammy nomination for best rock song.
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Semisonic joins a list of performers who have previously objected to Trump using their songs, including Celine Dion, ABBA, Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, Beyoncé and Adele.