Rock band gets panties wadded after White House uses their song in deportation clip

Rock band Semisonic is outraged that President Donald Trump used their iconic song to celebrate deportations, claiming the administration “missed the point entirely.”

The White House posted a video clip to their official X account showing deportations, which includes a brief snippet of Semisonic’s “Closing Time.” The lyrics “Closing time. You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here. I know who I want to take me home,” can be heard over the video of migrants being loaded onto a flight presumably to take them home.

Watch:

You don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here @CBP pic.twitter.com/yWWhlvKQrb

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 17, 2025

It didn’t take long for the band to catch wind of the video and issue a snarky statement on their own X account.

We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song “Closing Time” 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.

— Semisonic (@SemisonicBand) March 17, 2025

“We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song ‘Closing Time’ 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 band wrote.

The band would go on to shut off the comments, but not before they could feel the backlash of their statement:

I feel very joyful and hopeful at the possibilities of a country without foreign gangs

— Mostly Peaceful Memes (@MostlyPeacefull) March 17, 2025

How can ANYONE not feel joy when deporting gang members?

Pretty anti-American if you ask me.

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 17, 2025

pic.twitter.com/bPJJJC6xA8

— WileECoyote (@WileECitizen) March 17, 2025

pic.twitter.com/DOapWrde5l

— Sardonic Realist (@SardonicRealist) March 17, 2025

The Trump administration has been nothing but joy, possibilities and hope. The only ones who have missed the point entirely is you.

— Undercover Conservative (@Undercover26262) March 17, 2025

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