--- title: Republican Convention: Queen Objects to Donald Trump Song description: The rock group Queen was not pleased about Donald Trump using their anthem We Are The Champions for his entrance music canonical: https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/ author: Tara John article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-19T16:18:18.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T05:54:53.000Z article:section: Politics og:title: Queen Is Not Happy That Donald Trump Used Their Song og:description: But they probably can't do much about it og:url: https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt23cb5c441ace4085/69889c863c1639a79a45e171/donald-trump-queen-music-entrance.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: Republican National Convention in the United States og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Queen Is Not Happy That Donald Trump Used Their Song twitter:description: But they probably can't do much about it twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt23cb5c441ace4085/69889c863c1639a79a45e171/donald-trump-queen-music-entrance.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Queen Is Not Happy That Donald Trump Used Their Song at the Republican Convention > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d88e78f-e56c-42b4-893d-fa1e2176a906&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d88e78f-e56c-42b4-893d-fa1e2176a906&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=0d88e78f-e56c-42b4-893d-fa1e2176a906&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d88e78f-e56c-42b4-893d-fa1e2176a906&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: The Perfect Discomfort of Melania Trump’s Convention Speech [Watch (HLS stream): The Perfect Discomfort of Melania Trump’s Convention Speech](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dBYuDa54.m3u8) (1:57)  _Published 2016-07-19. Melania Trump’s speech lay towards the end of a long evening of the Republican National Convention’s TV broadcast like the pot of gold at the end of—well, not a rainbow. Perhaps a minefield._ by [Tara John](https://time.com/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Updated: Dec 13, 2023 5:54 AM UTCPublished: Jul 19, 2016 4:18 PM UTC Melania Trump’s speech lay towards the end of a long evening of the Republican National Convention’s TV broadcast like the pot of gold at the end of—well, not a rainbow. Perhaps a minefield. by [Tara John](https://time.com/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Updated: Dec 13, 2023 5:54 AM UTCPublished: Jul 19, 2016 4:18 PM UTC The rock group Queen was not pleased about Donald Trump using their anthem _We Are The Champions_ for his entrance music at the [Republican National Convention](http://time.com/4412119/republican-convention-first-day-speakers/) in Cleveland on Monday night. Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, the group issued a terse message: “An unauthorised use at the Republican Convention against our wishes – Queen” This is the second time the band has objected to Trump using its music. In June, Queen guitarist Brian May [said on his blog](http://www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbjun16a.html#14) that Trump’s use of _We Are The Champions_ at a campaign event was “was neither sought nor given.” He also said it was against Queen’s policy for their music to be used in political campaigns. Despite the outrage, the convention likely didn’t infringe on any copyrights, and unauthorized use of music in political campaign events is commonplace. “What is clear is the use that they made last night is legal” said music and film lawyer Marc Jacobson, adding that venues can buy rights to play songs from music licensors like the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). What isn’t so clear is if there “is a notion of implied endorsement that they \[Queen\] somehow support Trump,” Jacobson said. “That’s the issue, does the use of the song during a political campaign imply an endorsement by the owners of the copyright of the song?” Jacobson said. “A lot of people think it does and a lot of people think it doesn’t, so it is up in the air and the law is not clear on the subject.” > [](https://twitter.com/seanspicer/status/755442824376676352) Twitter users came to their own conclusions of the matter, saying the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury— who was gay—is probably rolling in his grave over his song being played at a Republican Party convention. > [](https://twitter.com/igorvolsky/status/755226755984535552) > [](https://twitter.com/MatthewJElliot1/status/755358679533252608) > [](https://twitter.com/Martina/status/755372141776736257) In 2015, REM frontman Michael Stipe reacted with a little more fury to Trump using one of his band’s songs, telling the presumptive [Republican nominee](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/rem-singer-micheal-stipe-tells-donald-trump-to-go-fk-himself-for-using-bands-song-in-moronic-charade-10494277.html) to “Go f—k yourself.” ## Transcript [00:00] [ MUSIC ] [00:10] [ APPLAUSE ] [00:20] It is my great honor. To present the [00:25] next First Lady of the United States, [00:30] my wife, an amazing mother, an [00:34] incredible woman, Melania Trump. thank you very much. [00:38] Thank you. Thank [00:43] you. [ MUSIC ] Thank you very much. [00:47] You have all been very kind to Donald [00:51] and me. Donald has a great, and deep and unbounding [00:57] determination. Donald is, and always has been an [01:01] amazing leader. Yes, Donald thinks big [01:05] Donald gets things done. Donald wants prosperity [01:10] for all Americans. Donald intends to represent [01:14] all the people. And most importantly, he will never, [01:19] ever let you down. If I'm honored to serve as First Lady [01:24] I will use that wonderful privilege to try to help people in [01:28] our country who need it the most. Ladies and gentlemen [01:33] Donald J. Trump. is ready to serve and lead. [01:38] This country as the next president of the United States. [01:42] [ SOUND ] [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you, God bless [01:45] you, and God bless America. [01:49] [ MUSIC ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/"},"headline":"Queen Is Not Happy That Donald Trump Used Their Song at the Republican Convention","datePublished":"2016-07-19T16:18:18.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T05:54:53.000Z","description":"But they probably can't do much about it","url":"https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/","keywords":["2016 Election","2016 Election","celebrities","Music","Republican National Convention"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt23cb5c441ace4085/69889c863c1639a79a45e171/donald-trump-queen-music-entrance.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tara John","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/tara-john/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt23cb5c441ace4085/69889c863c1639a79a45e171/donald-trump-queen-music-entrance.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Republican National Convention in the United States","caption":"Presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.","creditText":"Sputnik/AP","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/2016-election/","name":"2016 Election"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/","name":"Queen Is Not Happy That Donald Trump Used Their Song at the Republican Convention"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"The Perfect Discomfort of Melania Trump’s Convention Speech","description":"Melania Trump’s speech lay towards the end of a long evening of the Republican National Convention’s TV broadcast like the pot of gold at the end of—well, not a rainbow. Perhaps a minefield.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/dBYuDa54/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-07-19T03:53:06.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dBYuDa54.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/","duration":"PT1M57S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4412672/republican-convention-donald-trump-queen/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```