Jack White has swapped out the lyrics of his 2018 hit ‘Corporation’ to hit out at US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
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Last month (February 18), Jack White performed his final North American date as part of the ‘No Name’ tour in Boston, where he played a scathing version of ‘Corporation’ that saw him take aim at Trump and Musk.
Though the show took place nearly a month ago, the performance has only recently started making headlines after footage of the song began circulating in recent days. During the song, Jack White starts off by ripping into Tesla owner Elon Musk, who was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency by Trump.
“I was thinking about taking government subsidies and starting my own electric car company; Who’s with me?” White sings. “I’m thinking about not being elected. Never holding a public office. Never serving one day of military service, But somehow having the authority to control parts of the US Government; Who’s with me?”
While still taking jabs at Musk, Jack White also manages to slide in a cheeky attack on Trump: “I’m thinking about not being properly vetted by the Supreme Court or Congress, Just doing whatever the hell I want because some fucking bloated asshole orange fucking gorilla whose failed at every business he’s ever ran wants me to be his golf cart partner.”
Check out footage of the scathing performance below.
It’s the latest instance of Jack White taking aim at Trump and his administration. Back in November, the White Stripes frontman reacted to Donald Trump’s second electoral win, launching a blistering post on social media: “Americans chose a known, obvious fascist and now America will get whatever this wannabe dictator wants to enact from here on in… It’s absolutely dumbfounding that this con man succeeded in pulling the wool over so many Americans eyes not once, but twice.”
In August, he warned the Trump presidential campaign not to use his music after a clip of The White Stripes’ music appeared in a video. The White Stripes’ hit ‘Seven Nation Army’ was used in the clip of Trump travelling on the campaign trail, and White then warned: “Oh….Don’t even think about using my music you fascists” before saying he would be filing a lawsuit for its inappropriate use.”
The lawsuit was filed in September, with Meg and Jack White listed as co-plaintiffs. According to the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Manhattan, the band “vehemently oppose the policies adopted and actions taken by Defendant Trump when he was President and those he has proposed for the second term he seeks” (per Pitchfork).
In a post shared to Instagram on September 9, White captioned a copy of the legal complaint: “This machine sues fascists.” During his surprise set at London’s Assembly Hall in September, he seemed to reference the dispute again, telling the crowd: “As soon as you join a political party, someone tries to lie to your face… I got news for you: you got a brain, you got a mind. Can I hear an amen, London!”
In October, he once again hit out at Trump when the incoming President insulted Detroit when delivering a speech in the city. At one point, Trump used the city as an example of what would happen to the country if his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, went on to win the election. “It will be like Detroit,” he said. “Our whole country will end up being like Detroit if she’s your president. You’re going to have a mess on your hands.”
White retorted on social media: “What kind of political idiot insults Detroit while SPEAKING TO DETROITERS??? Guess what trump, YOU AIN’T LIKE US. You’re gonna lose Michigan BIGLY you wanna-be dictator orange clown. Go back to your fascist rallies.”
Elsewhere, The White Stripes recently announced a 20th-anniversary reissue of their fifth album ‘Get Behind Me Satan’, featuring songwriting demos, alternate studio takes and live versions.
Since then, the frontman also headlined Saturday Night Live’s 50th-anniversary concert, playing classic track ‘Seven Nation Army’ and delivering a cover of Neil Young’s ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’.