Johnny Marr, the legendary guitarist of The Smiths, has voiced his opposition to former President Donald Trump’s campaign using the band’s 1984 hit “Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” at political rallies. Marr’s reaction came after discovering that the song had been played at several Trump events, including a recent one in New Hampshire.
The 60-year-old musician expressed his surprise and disapproval on Twitter, responding to a mention of the song’s frequent play at Trump’s 2024 rallies. He emphatically stated, “I never in a million years thought this could come to pass,” and declared, “Consider this s–t shut down right now.”
It remains unclear whether Marr intends to pursue legal action to prevent further use of the nearly two-minute-long song by the Trump campaign. The New York Post reached out to his agent for comment but has yet to receive a response.
Marr’s stance against Trump’s use of The Smiths’ music adds him to a growing list of artists and estates that have opposed Trump’s musical choices for his campaign events. The Rolling Stones, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Rihanna, and the estates of Tom Petty and Leonard Cohen have previously issued cease-and-desist letters or expressed disapproval of Trump’s use of their songs. Neil Young even filed a lawsuit against Trump’s 2020 campaign over the use of his music, though he later quietly dismissed the suit.
Despite the controversy over his music choices, Trump continues to be a prominent figure in the race for the White House. He recently held off competitor Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary, maintaining his position in the political landscape.
Johnny Marr’s outspoken stance reflects the ongoing tension between artists and political figures over the use of music in campaigns, highlighting issues of artistic control and political endorsement.