Musician Kenny Loggins has demanded that Donald Trump remove his music from a bizarre AI video the president posted over the weekend.
On Saturday, Trump shared an AI-generated clip on Truth Social showing himself operating a fighter jet, which was branded “King Trump,” while wearing a crown.
He is then seen flying over No Kings protesters in New York before unloading streams of brown waste onto those gathered in what appeared to be Times Square.
Highlights
- Kenny Loggins demands the removal of his song ‘Danger Zone’ from Trump’s AI video featuring ‘King Trump’ flying a fighter jet.
- Loggins condemns the unauthorized use, stating he would have denied permission if asked, and calls for unity over division.
- Trump’s AI video shows him flying over No Kings protesters and dumping waste, using Loggins’ song without consent.
- The White House has not formally responded, replying to media with a ‘Top Gun’ image instead of addressing Loggins’ request.
Kenny Loggins wants his song removed from Donald Trump’s AI video
Image credits: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images
Throughout the fake clip, Loggins’ performance of the song ‘Danger Zone,’ a hit single from the film Top Gun, plays in the background.
The American musician, 77, has now slammed Trump’s unauthorized use of the song and said even if permission had been sought, he would have denied it.
“This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’ Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately,” Loggins said in a statement shared with several media outlets.
“I can’t imagine why anybody would want their music used or associated with something created with the sole purpose of dividing us. Too many people are trying to tear us apart, and we need to find new ways to come together,” he added.
“We’re all Americans, and we’re all patriotic. There is no ‘us and them’—that’s not who we are, nor is it what we should be. It’s all of us. We’re in this together, and it is my hope that we can embrace music as a way of celebrating and uniting each and every one of us.”
The White House has not responded to Loggins’ demand, but in response to NPR asking for a statement on the request for the song to be removed, it sent an image from Top Gun.
White House spokesperson Davis R. Ingle replied to NPR with an image of Tom Cruise and the late Val Kilmer, captioning it, “I FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED.”
The exact same response was sent to Variety when it requested a White House statement.
The White House sent a photo of Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer in response
Image credits: CBS via Getty Images
It comes after Trump posted the video trolling protesters who are unhappy with his presidency and the executive actions he has taken so far.
According to the No Kings website, more than 7 million people attended events on October 18 in 50 states.
That number is up around 2 million from the estimated attendance at protests in June, when 5 million people are said to have taken part.
Loggins is not the only musician to object to Trump using his music without approval, with some artists even filing lawsuits for infringement of copyright.
Image credits: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
The White Stripes and the estate of Isaac Hayes both filed civil suits against Trump, but the White Stripes dropped their case in November of last year.
The case brought on behalf of Hayes is making its way through federal court against Trump, his re-election campaign, and Turning Point Action.
Other artists who have objected to Trump using their work include ABBA, Neil Young, Céline Dion, Johnny Marr, Phil Collins, Rihanna, and The Rolling Stones, among many others.