Singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins is asking President Trump to remove the audio of one of his performances from a contentious AI-generated video that Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday evening.
In the fake video, a crown-wearing Trump is in a fighter jet emblazoned “KING TRUMP.”
In a statement sent to NPR on Monday morning, Loggins wrote: “This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.’
(“Danger Zone” was written by Top Gun’s score composer, Giorgio Moroder, and songwriter Tom Whitlock, with Loggins as the performer.)
NPR reached out to the White House for a response to Loggins’ specific objections and his request that his performance be removed.
President Trump shared a controversial AI-generated video on his Truth Social account on Saturday night, and singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins is requesting that the audio from one of his performances be taken down.
A crown-wearing Trump is seen in the phony video flying in a fighter jet with the words “KING TRUMP” painted on it. As the plane drops sultry brown material over crowds of protesters holding American flags and signs in what looks to be Times sq\. in New York City, Loggins sings “Danger Zone,” a hit single from the 1986 film Top Gun.
It was released as a purported response to the massive No Kings demonstrations that occurred throughout the United States. A. this Saturday. (The official White House account shared a phony photo of Trump and Vice President Vance wearing crowns on X on Saturday night, along with a phony photo of Rep. Jeffries, D-N. Hakeem. Yep. as well as Sen… The D-N of Chuck Schumer. Y. in dark colors. ().
This is an unapproved use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone,'” Loggins wrote in a statement that was sent to NPR on Monday morning. I would have refused to give permission if no one had asked, and I ask that my recording on this video be taken down right away. Top Gun’s songwriter Tom Whitlock and composer Giorgio Moroder wrote the song “Danger Zone,” which Loggins performed. ).
Loggins went on: “It’s incomprehensible to me why anyone would want their music to be used or connected to something that was made just to keep us apart. We must discover new ways to unite because there are too many people attempting to destroy us. Each and every one of us is patriotic and an American. No “us and them” exists; that is neither who we are nor how we ought to be. It involves all of us. We are all in this together, and I hope that we can all embrace music as a means of celebration and unification. “,”.
Musicians have long protested the use of their art to promote political causes by the current president and other political figures. The use of songs in political advertisements is the only use that performers and songwriters can expressly forbid, but otherwise, such use is usually acceptable as long as rights holders are fairly compensated. Nevertheless, a lot of artists decide to publicly express these objections in order to raise awareness of their position.
NPR requested a response from the White House regarding Loggins’ specific concerns and his request to have his performance taken down.
Responding to NPR’s inquiries, White House spokesperson Davis R. Ingle sent an image from the movie Top Gun featuring Tom Cruise and the late Val Kilmer with the caption, “I FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED.”. “.”.
