Barbados native Rihanna joined a growing list of musical artists telling President Donald Trump to stop playing their music at his Make America Great Again rallies. The move came after journalist Philip Rucker posted a tweet about Trump's Tennessee rally on Sunday.
Rucker took to Twitter and said:
"It’s been said a million times, but here’s a million and one — Trump’s rallies are unlike anything else in politics. Currently, Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” is blaring in Chattanooga as aides toss free Trump T-shirts into the crowd, like a ball game. Everyone’s loving it."
It’s been said a million times, but here’s a million and one — Trump’s rallies are unlike anything else in politics… https://t.co/bohFEga3ji— Philip Rucker (@Philip Rucker) 1541372936.0
Rihanna retweeted Rucker's message with the caption:
"Not for much longer...me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip!"
Not for much longer...me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the h… https://t.co/K3HdjZGH5V— Rihanna (@Rihanna) 1541377571.0
Trump and his rallies received cease and desist letters from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and requests he remove their music from his rallies from Adele, Axl Rose, Queen, Pharrell Williams, Neil Young and the Rolling Stones to name just a few.
The Barbados singer's response to learning Trump's rally included her song "Don’t Stop the Music" to pump up the waiting crowd came as no surprise to anyone who follows her. Rihanna vocally and publicly opposed the President and his policies on several occasions previously.
Rihanna called Trump an "immoral pig" over his Muslim travel ban. She also heavily criticized his administration's poor handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
People online applauded the singer's stance on the use of her music to excite the President's fans at one of his "tragic rallies."
Actor Chris Evans responded to the news with a tweet saying he loved the singer.
I love Rihanna. https://t.co/rqRlUXpWz0— Chris Evans (@Chris Evans) 1541386949.0
Others also expressed support for the artist's stance.
@rihanna You’re a queen.— Lauren Jauregui (@Lauren Jauregui) 1541397378.0
@rihanna The Queen has spoken.— Ava DuVernay (@Ava DuVernay) 1541424692.0
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 seriously @rihanna is slaying me in my spirit this am. Between the clapback at the Orange menace to the ba… https://t.co/6iJQkS5vnd— Alicia Garza (@Alicia Garza) 1541432363.0
Although a few people tried to attack the singer for her message. But were shot down pretty fast.
@nataliet1971 @ksteinmetz1975 @sap1028 @rihanna Which she doesnt because the "artist" Rihanna has probably not even… https://t.co/SHMpZLvvSB— GruffRainCloud (@GruffRainCloud) 1541430390.0
@GruffRain @ksteinmetz1975 @rihanna “Has not even wrote”—wow! Did you make it through high school, bud? That’s an e… https://t.co/P9IJGWDmcI— banthefrontlawn (@banthefrontlawn) 1541432506.0
@rihanna So tragic that our economy is the best it's been in decades, loosened regulations have helped small busine… https://t.co/JjN3qdodJV— Melanie Parham (@Melanie Parham) 1541428370.0
@MPMemphis @rihanna All our small businesses are closing and wages are stagnant. What are you looking at for wage t… https://t.co/1UY4aAJeMA— HiZenBerg11 (@HiZenBerg11) 1541429457.0
@lmcclelland63 @HiZenBerg11 @MPMemphis @rihanna Lies the right tells themselves 🤦🏽♂️— Franciscus Vieta (@Franciscus Vieta) 1541430053.0
However how much control an artist has over their music played at venues is limited. Axl Rose took to Twitter to explain.
Just so ya know... GNR like a lot of artists opposed to the unauthorized use of their music at political events has… https://t.co/P4UHQRlMYX— Axl Rose (@Axl Rose) 1541318723.0
Unfortunately the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues’ blanket performance licenses which were… https://t.co/KyfRvWMFBa— Axl Rose (@Axl Rose) 1541318723.0
Personally I kinda liked the irony of Trump supporters listening to a bunch of anti Trump music at his rallies but… https://t.co/Xahr7Vo473— Axl Rose (@Axl Rose) 1541318724.0
And when ur phone’s blowin’ up cuz peeps r seein’/hearin’ Sweet Child on the news at a rally... as a band we felt w… https://t.co/VcUcl1FWJK— Axl Rose (@Axl Rose) 1541318724.0
But one person tried to claim artists asking for their work to not be associated with political ideology they vehemently oppose was "bullying."
@axlrose I didn’t know that playing a song at an event meant the band endorsed the candidate...I thought it was jus… https://t.co/9pT27WOb1C— @neckra (@@neckra) 1541332786.0
@neckra @axlrose They don’t want their art being associated with messages they don’t agree with, especially if they… https://t.co/mGkSYOaEHY— Bradley Christopher (@Bradley Christopher) 1541338082.0
@boo_radlee @axlrose Ok, art that moves people in all different ways and for different reasons. Disliking someone a… https://t.co/RqiTLlUDFe— @neckra (@@neckra) 1541344156.0
@neckra @axlrose Well no, it’s not getting them to attend, because they are already there 🤷♂️ You’re completely missing the point.— Bradley Christopher (@Bradley Christopher) 1541344542.0
@boo_radlee @neckra @axlrose Of course she's missing the point. It's what they do, on purpose I might add. But may… https://t.co/a9BgHWKL4T— galewind (@galewind) 1541345387.0
@galegreenoak @boo_radlee @neckra @axlrose I like the part where she said it’s a form of bullying LOL but then she… https://t.co/4GmcAZD4tq— quadboy (@quadboy) 1541367703.0
@takingstepsup @galegreenoak @boo_radlee @neckra @axlrose Apparently it's ok if he does it. 🙄— Geraldine Jones (@Geraldine Jones) 1541369426.0
@GeraldineJones8 @takingstepsup @galegreenoak @boo_radlee @neckra @axlrose It's in the Trump supporters playbook, chapter one— Tito Mejia (@Tito Mejia) 1541378909.0
Whether the Trump campaign honors any of the musicians asking them to not play their music remains to be seen. Trump is currently campaigning for the midterms slated for Tuesday, November 6, 2018.