Kenny Loggins has added his voice to the growing chorus of musicians pushing back against Donald Trump’s unauthorized use of their music.
This past Monday, the famous artist from the ’80s responded to a weekend post from Trump, which included an AI-generated video with Loggins’ classic hit “Danger Zone” from the iconic 1986 film Top Gun.
In his statement, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Loggins expressed his disapproval: “This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’ Nobody reached out for my permission, which I would have denied. I demand the immediate removal of my recording from this video.”
The controversial video shows Trump pouring brown sludge on a crowd of protesters while wearing a crown and flying in a jet d “King Trump.” This segment appears to be a response to recent massive demonstrations d “No Kings,” which took place in cities across the U.S. on Saturday. Celebrities like Spike Lee, Mark Ruffalo, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ben Stiller were part of these significant protests, as highlighted on the “No Kings” website, which claims over 7 million participants across 2,700 events.
Loggins further elaborated, saying, “I can’t understand why anyone would want their music linked to something created solely to divide us. There are too many forces trying to tear us apart; we need to discover new methods to unite. We’re all Americans and share this sense of patriotism. There’s no ‘us and them’—that’s not what we stand for, nor should we. It’s about togetherness, and I hope music can be a way to celebrate and unify all of us.”
In the past, Trump and his team have faced backlash from various renowned artists over the unauthorized use of their tunes for campaign events and political statements. Notable figures like Neil Young, Jack White, Sinéad O’Connor, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Rufus Wainwright, and Beyoncé protested similar use of their songs, including the application of her track “Freedom” for Kamala Harris’s 2024 run.
Loggins’ “Danger Zone” even made a return in the 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.
