Foo Fighters did not allow Trump to use “My Hero” at rally

The Foo Fighters strike back.

A spokesman for the rock band told USA TODAY on Sunday that Donald Trump’s campaign team did not ask them for permission to use the group’s song “My Hero” at the former president’s rally with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Glendale, Arizona, on Friday, “and if they had, they would not have granted it.”

The representative added that “all royalties generated from this use will be donated to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.”

USA TODAY has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. A campaign spokesperson told The Independent, “We have a license to play the song.”

The Foo Fighters song was played at the rally after Trump introduced Kennedy, who announced Friday that he was suspending his presidential campaign and endorsing the Republican candidate. The song was heard as Kennedy walked on stage, waved to the crowd and shook Trump’s hand.

When asked by X if the Foo Fighters had consented to the use of the song, the band replied, “No.” The verified X account subsequently shared a screenshot of the response for greater visibility and wrote, “Let’s get this straight.”

“And really, THIS song”: Céline Dion: Trump’s use of the “Titanic” song is unauthorized

The band is the latest to express disapproval of the Trump campaign’s use of their song. Earlier this month, Celine Dion’s team said it did not approve of Trump’s use of “My Heart Will Go On,” their song from the movie Titanic, at a rally in Montana.

“This use is in no way authorized and Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use… And really, THIS song?” she said in a statement on her Instagram page.

Also in August, Isaac Hayes’ family threatened to sue Trump for using his song “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at rallies.

“Donald Trump embodies a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continued use of my father’s music without permission, but also through his history of sexually abusing women and his racist rhetoric,” said Hayes’ son Isaac Hayes III. “This behavior will no longer be tolerated and we will take swift action to put a stop to it.”

Dave Grohl, founder of the Foo Fighters, had previously been critical of Trump, telling GQ in 2018: “The thing that hurts most about Trump is this: He just seems like a huge idiot. Right?”

Contributors: Taijuan Moorman, David Jackson and Sudiksha Kochi

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