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After Donald Trump’s playlist during a campaign stop in Bozeman, Montana, included Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On, the Republican presidential candidate is being mocked online as his re-election bid hits rough waters.
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Penned by James Horner as the love theme from 1997’s Titanic, My Heart Will Go On is about the death of a loved one and includes the lyrics: “Near, far, wherever you are/I believe that the heart does go on.”
On social media, users chided Trump for his use of the track, with some comparing the disastrous 1912 shipwreck to his “sinking campaign.”
“Perfect – because when your campaign’s headed for an iceberg, you might as well set it to music,” one person joked on X.
“Is Trump’s campaign being trolled from within?” former NBC senior executive Mike Sington asked. “Many consider Titanic a metaphor for Trump’s sinking campaign.”
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On Saturday, Dion’s management team and her record label disavowed any endorsement of Trump and questioned his choice of the song.
“Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” a statement shared to X read.
“In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.”
Dion’s message concluded by gently mocking the former president for picking the ballad: “And really, THAT song?”
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As of Saturday afternoon, Dion’s response had been viewed 2.4 million times on X with the vast majority of the Canadian pop star’s fans taunting Trump.
“We really have to ask ourselves if the Trump campaign can…go on…after this slaying by Tweet,” one person teased, while another called Dion’s message, “Fitting for a sinking ship.”
Others shared images of the Titanic sinking, with one writing, “You ended him like you ended the Titanic.”
A popular meme was quickly born out of the drama, picturing Trump and his running mate JD Vance mimicking Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s characters in the film with the title: “TRUMPTANIC: Collide with Failure This November.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has found himself at odds with musical artists.
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Back in 2020, Neil Young sued Trump for copyright infringement after he played Rockin’ in the Free World and Devil’s Sidewalk numerous times at rallies. Young, who later dropped his suit, said he didn’t want his music “used as a ‘theme song’ for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate.”
Trump also drew the ire of the Rolling Stones, who threatened to sue him after he played their 1969 hit You Can’t Always Get What You Want on the campaign trail four years ago.
Meanwhile, the family of the late Tom Petty issued a cease-and-desist order after his song I Won’t Back Down was used.
“Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,” a statement read. “Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind. Tom Petty would never want a song of his to be used in a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.’’
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After Trump played the Smiths’ track Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want at an election rally, the band’s guitarist denounced the use of the song, writing on X: “Ahh…right…OK. I never in a million years would’ve thought this could come to pass. Consider this s— shut right down right now.”
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Earlier on, Trump riled Adele when he tried to add Rolling in the Deep and Skyfall to his 2016 playlist.
“Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning,” her spokesman said in a statement to The Guardian.
After Trump tried to use REM’s It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) back in 2015, singer Michael Stipe lashed out at the businessman: “Go f— yourselves, the lot of you – you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men. Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign.”
Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler also took issue with Trump ordering him to stop using Livin’ on the Edge at his rallies.
Trump has also come under fire for using Sam and Dave’s 1966 hit Hold On, I’m Coming during a National Rifle Association rally in 2022.
A rep for songwriter Isaac Hayes’ estate said in a statement to Variety, “The estate and family of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve and would NEVER approve the use of “Hold on I’m coming’” by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at this weekend’s National Rifle Association convention. Our condolences go out to the victims and families of #Uvalde and mass shooting victims everywhere.”
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