The American rock band Semisonic has voiced its disapproval after the White House used their hit song “Closing Time” in a controversial social media post depicting a deportee in shackles.
The post, which was shared by the Trump administration on Monday, came just days after the U.S. government carried out the highly contentious deportation of hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members.
The video, which also featured footage of deportees boarding an aircraft, included the song’s lyrics in the caption: “You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here.” The White House’s use of the song in this context immediately drew criticism, with the band making it clear they did not authorize or condone its use.
In a statement responding to the video, Semisonic expressed strong opposition to the association of their song with the deportation narrative. “We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song in any way. And no, they didn’t ask,” the band said.
They further clarified the meaning behind “Closing Time,” stating that the song is meant to convey “joy and possibilities and hope,” and that its use in this context completely misrepresented its intended message.
The controversy is the latest in a long history of artists objecting to their work being used by political figures, particularly by the Trump administration.
When asked about the video during a press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended its message, saying that “our entire government clearly is leaning into the message of this president.”
Despite the backlash from Semisonic, the administration did not indicate any plans to remove the video or issue an apology for its use of the song. The incident underscores the growing tensions surrounding the deportations, which have been widely condemned by human rights advocates and Venezuelan officials.
The deportations themselves were legally challenged when U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg issued a temporary order blocking them on Saturday. However, by the time the ruling was made, two planes carrying immigrants had already taken off—one bound for El Salvador and the other for Honduras.
Lawyers involved in the case informed the judge that the deportation process had already been set in motion, raising questions about whether the administration had intentionally rushed the deportations to circumvent legal challenges.
According to White House officials, more than 200 individuals were deported as part of this operation, all of whom were said to be members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, a notorious criminal organization that originated in the prisons of Venezuela’s Aragua state.
However, critics, including Venezuelan officials, have disputed these claims. Jorge Rodriguez, the president of Venezuela’s National Assembly, stated in a press conference that those deported had not been proven to have committed crimes in either the United States or El Salvador.
He further asserted that the deportees had been denied due process, and Venezuela would take steps to demand their return.
The legal battle over the deportations took another turn on Monday when it was revealed that the U.S. Justice Department is now seeking to remove Judge Boasberg from the case entirely. The request for his removal came just before a scheduled hearing in his Washington, D.C., courtroom, raising suspicions about political interference in the judicial process.
As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the deportations will face further legal scrutiny or if the administration will continue its current course of action despite widespread opposition.
Semisonic’s criticism of the White House places them among a long list of artists who have objected to the Trump administration using their music for political purposes. Over the years, musicians such as Abba, Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, Celine Dion, Beyoncé, and Adele have all publicly condemned the use of their songs at Trump-related events.
“Closing Time,” originally released on the band’s 1998 album Feeling Strangely Fine, was a significant hit, peaking at number 43 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It also reached number four on Billboard’s Adult Alternative Airplay chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song.
The track’s enduring popularity makes it an instantly recognizable anthem, but Semisonic has made it clear that it does not support its use in any political messaging, especially one tied to such a divisive issue.
