Semisonic Criticizes White House for Using "Closing Time" in Deportation Video

Semisonic, the rock band from Minneapolis composed of Dan Wilson, John Munson, and Jacob Slichter, has firmly criticized the Trump administration for utilizing their iconic song "Closing Time" in a controversial social media post. The video in question, released by the White House, depicts a deportation scene where a detained individual in shackles is patted down by Border Patrol agents at an airport. Accompanying the footage are the song's lyrics, "You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here," further inciting the band's disapproval. This is prepared by SSP.

Expressing their position, Semisonic issued a strong statement via Instagram and other media outlets: "We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song 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 controversial post arrived shortly after an announcement from the Trump administration regarding the deportation of nearly 300 immigrants linked to the Tren de Aragua terrorists in El Salvador. This administrative decision followed Trump's earlier grant of authority to detain and deport so-called "Alien Enemies."

In response, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration's mission by stating, "Our entire government clearly is leaning into the message of this president," emphasizing safety improvements. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection supported the narrative by retweeting the post with the caption "It’s closing time. We are making America safe again."

Semisonic's 1998 hit "Closing Time" emerged from their album "Feeling Strangely Fine," achieving fame by peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning a Grammy nomination.

The band's disappointment adds them to an extensive list of musicians, including ABBA, Adele, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, and others, who have previously contested the unauthorized use of their works by the Trump administration and campaigns. All criticize these actions as misaligned with their songs' intended messages of hope and positivity.

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