11 Black Artists Who Have Rejected Donald Trump

Prince and Beyonce perform a medley of his hits at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. Source: L. Cohen / Getty

Throughout his presidential campaigns, Donald Trump has faced backlash from a variety of artists who objected to their music being used at his rallies and events. Some have openly expressed that they have had no desire to be associated with the controversial political figure flat out. For many of these artists, the issue wasn’t just about politics—it was about ensuring their music or brand wasn’t connected with the Republican’s divisive policies, values, or rhetoric (unlike Nelly, who recently performed at Donald Trump’s 2025 Inauguration). 

Among the artists who have taken a stand are several influential Black musicians, whose music and messages have shaped American culture for decades. Here are 10 Black artists who firmly expressed opposition to Donald Trump and his political agenda.

1. Beyoncé

Source: @tiffanyandco / Instagram

Former President Donald Trump attempted to use Beyoncé’s music for his campaign but quickly found himself on the receiving end of a cease-and-desist. As previously reported, the 32-time Grammy Award-winning artist issued the legal notice after Trump’s campaign posted a video on Aug. 20, 2024, that featured her hit song “Freedom.”

The video, shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Trump’s spokesperson Steven Cheung, showed the former president de-boarding a plane in Michigan. At one point, Trump, who was convicted in his New York hush money trial in May, raised his fists in celebration as photographers snapped his picture. Sources revealed that Trump and his team did not seek permission from Beyoncé or her representatives, prompting the cease and desist. Following the news of the letter, the video was promptly removed from social media.

Interestingly, Vice President Kamala Harris had previously received authorization from Beyoncé and her label to use “Freedom” at her presidential campaign rallies.

2. Prince

Source: Richard E. Aaron / Getty

Perhaps one of the most iconic artists to reject Trump’s use of his music was Prince. In 2019, following the Trump campaign’s use of “Purple Rain” at a rally in the late singer’s hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the legendary musician’s estate issued a statement saying that Trump was not authorized to use Prince’s music.

According to Rolling Stone, Trump reached an agreement with Prince’s estate in 2018, pledging never to use “Purple Rain” again after the song was played at several pre-election rallies. 

“The Prince Estate will never give permission to President Trump to use Prince’s songs,” a statement from Prince’s camp read at the time. 

3. Earth, Wind & Fire

Source: Ron Galella / Getty

Legendary funk, soul, and jazz band Earth, Wind & Fire slammed Donald Trump in 2016 after the former reality TV star walked out to their iconic hit “September” while accepting the GOP nomination on the second day of the Republican National Convention—without their permission, the Hollywood Reporter noted.

In a tweet, the band wrote, “Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes.”

4. Pharrell Williams

Source: Mark Sagliocco / Getty

Pharrell Williams has also been outspoken in his opposition to Trump. In 2018, the billionaire entrepreneur used Pharrell’s hit song “Happy” at a rally in Indiana hours after a shooting occurred inside a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people and injuring six others, People reported. 

The artist’s legal team sent a cease and desist letter demanding that the campaign stop using the song.

“On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged ‘nationalist,’ you played his song ‘Happy’ to a crowd at a political event in Indiana,” wrote Howard King, Williams’ lawyer.

“There was nothing ‘happy’ about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose,” the letter continued. “Demand is hereby made that you cease and desist from any further unauthorized use of Pharrell Williams’ music.”

5. Rihanna

Source: Cindy Ord / Getty

Rihanna, who has been vocal about her support for social justice causes, rejected Trump’s use of her song “Don’t Stop the Music” during his 2018 campaign. The Bajan beauty took to social media to voice her disapproval of Trump using her music after journalist, Philip Rucker, brought it to her attention that the staunch Republican was using her smash hit to hype up the crowd at his rally in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“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,” Rucker penned in a post shared Nov. 4, 2018.

Upset by Trump’s actions, Rihanna quickly replied, “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!” 

Rihanna, known for her philanthropic efforts and advocacy for marginalized communities, has used her platform to make it clear that her music will not be associated with political movements that she believes undermine equality and justice, and the star followed through on her vow. She sent a cease and desist letter to Trump the day after, according to Rolling Stone.

6. The O’Jays

Source: Scott Dudelson / Getty

The iconic soul group the O’Jays, known for their music’s powerful messages about love, unity, and social change, took a stand against Donald Trump’s campaign in 2016 when they learned their hit song “For The Love Of Money” was used as the theme song of the President-elect’s hit show The Apprentice. It was also played at the 2016 RNC rally. 

At the time, the band told TMZ that while they couldn’t do anything about the song being used on The Apprentice—since they didn’t write the track—they were concerned that Trump’s use of the classic would be interpreted as an endorsement of him. 

The tipping point came when the O’Jays sent a cease and desist letter to Donald Trump and Florida Rep. John Mica after they were outraged by a video posted by the latter, which praised Trump’s involvement in a D.C. real estate deal. The 2014 clip sadly featured their track “For The Love Of Money.” Eddie Levert and Walter Williams, the legendary members of the O’Jays, expressed that the video conveyed conflicting messages, as they do not endorse Trump, his political agenda, or the views of the GOP. 

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7. Isaac Hayes

Source: Jim Steinfeldt / Getty

Per Billboard, in August 2024, Isaac Hayes’ estate filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for using the late soul singer’s classic track “Hold On, I’m Coming” without permission at several rallies. In response, a federal judge granted an emergency hearing, requiring both Trump and representatives from the RNC to appear. The judge ultimately ruled in favor of Hayes’ estate, issuing a temporary injunction that prohibited Trump from using the song at future events while the case proceeded.

8. Chance the Rapper

Source: Ethan Miller / Getty

Chicago-bred hip-hop star Chance the Rapper also took a stand against Trump in 2018 after the Republican publicly thanked him on X for being “a great service” to Black community members in the Windy City. 

“I’d never support anyone who has made a career out of hatred, racism, and discrimination,” Chance said in a statement at the time, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

9. John Legend 

Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty

Singer, songwriter, and activist John Legend has long been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, particularly regarding issues of racial injustice and inequality. During an interview with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki in April 2024, the musical star condemned Trump’s response to the Black Lives Matter protests that exploded across the country following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Police used excessive force against some of the protesters during the rallies guided by approval from Trump.  

“When we protested the killing of George Floyd, he was advocating for the military to shoot us in the streets,” Legend said, according to the Hill. “He has made it clear throughout his life that he believes Black people are inferior. Like, he believes that, to his core, in his bones.”

10. Aretha Franklin

Source: Universal History Archive / Getty

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was another major figure, who allegedly wanted nothing to do with Trump or his presidential campaign, according to writers, Lachlan Markay and Asawin Suebsaen of Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump’s Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington, People reported. 

According to the duo, Donald Trump had ambitious plans for his 2017 inauguration and personally pushed for Franklin to perform. However, despite being offered, the legendary soul artist said “no amount of money” would sway her to perform at the ceremony. She firmly declined the offer.

11. Snoop Dogg

Source: Chris Coduto / Getty

Snoop Dogg officially ended his years-long feud with Donald Trump in 2024, but we can’t forget some of the sharp comments he’s made about the president-elect over the years. In 2020, during an interview with Big Boy’s Neighborhood on Real 92.3, the rapper made it clear that he didn’t want Trump in office any longer. When discussing his plan to vote for the first time in the 2020 election, Snoop said his primary reason for voting was to help get Trump out of the White House.

“I ain’t never voted a day in my life, but this year I think I’m going to get out and vote because I can’t stand to see this punk in office one more year,” Snoop Dogg told Big Boy during the interview, according to USA Today. 

The hip-hop legend’s criticism of Trump had been building for years. In 2017, he took direct aim at the president in his music video for “Lavender (Nightfall Remix),” where he pointed a gun at a clown dressed as Trump. In a Billboard interview at the time, Snoop explained his many grievances with Trump, including the travel ban, Trump’s unexpected rise to the presidency, police violence, and the long sentences for non-violent drug offenders. For Snoop, the issues with Trump were deeply personal and political.

“The ban that this motherf–ker tried to put up; him winning the presidency; police being able to kill motherf–kers and get away with it; people being in jail for weed for 20, 30 years and motherf–kers that’s not Black on the streets making money off of it — but if you got color or ethnicity connected to your name, you’ve been wrongfully accused or locked up for it, and then you watching people not of color position themselves to get millions and billions off of it,” the rapper told Billboard about his disdain for Trump at the time.

“It’s a lot of clown sh-t going on that we could just sit and talk on the phone all day about, but it’s a few issues that we really wanted to lock into [for the video] like police, the president and just life in general.” 

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