As November nears, Donald Trump took his 2024 presidential campaign to Bozeman, Montana, on Friday, August 9, 2024. Clips from the rally circulating on social media show the Titanic theme song being played at the gathering.
Titanic, a 1997 epic disaster film by James Cameron, fictionalizes the sinking of the infamous ship. Its end credits featured Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, which became synonymous with the movie. The track won several awards and topped the charts in 25 countries.
As news of My Heart Will Go On playing at Trump's Montana rally spread, internet users were quick to react. Many Democrats commented:
Many joked that Celine Dion would soon file for a motion to cease and desist to keep people from using the song. Others, especially the Democratic netizens, remarked that this was foreshadowing Trump's downfall.
Here are some comments seen on X:
Some wondered whether playing the song was an internal joke among the Republican candidate's team.
Per a CBS News report citing airport officials, on Friday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's private plane was forced to land at the Billings-Logan International Airport in Billings, Montana, due to a reported mechanical issue. Airport authorities told the publication that his plane "landed without incident," adding that he soon left for Bozeman, Montana.
The Presidential candidate was holding his campaign rally in the city, which is located about 142 miles west of Billings. It was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., with supporters lining up hours ahead of time to grab a spot. However, he ended up arriving at 11:30 p.m.
Per New York Times journalist Michal Gold, who was present at the rally, the former president admitted he came to Montana to help boost Republican votes. To be noted, Montana is considered a Republican state, with no Democrat winning the race for president since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Gold stated that, during Donald's speech, he mocked Senator Jon Tester (Dem) for his weight while praising Tim Sheehy (Rep) for his military service and his expertise as a businessman.
Meanwhile, Trump's Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, held their rally in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday.
There is no official word on what the mechanical issue was or what caused it.
Is Trump's Campaign Sinking?
Donald Trump’s rally in Montana Friday sparked a strong social media reaction after Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ – her Oscar-winning song from Titanic – was blared out from the speakers shortly before the presidential hopeful took to the stage.
The Daily Mail reports that the irony of an ode to a sinking ship being played at the event was not lost on observers, many of whom took to social media, one even asking if Trump’s team had a mole from Kamala Harris’s side, intent on trolling Trump with the choice of song.
Who Owns the Rights?
This raises the question of whether the campaign has the rights, owned by 20th Century Fox, to use the song publicly. Deadline has reached out to Dion’s representatives for comment.
Trump and 'My Heart Will Go On'
This isn’t the first time the star’s hit from the 1997 film has been used by Trump’s people. The song was played at a Trump rally on Nov 1, 2020 during the final stretch of the presidential campaign, leading The View moderator Whoopi Goldberg to quip the following day, “The irony is just magnificent.” Added co-cost Sara Haines, “That does not bode well for anyone.”
Trump's Speech: Misgendering and Mocking
The inclusion of the song wasn’t the only controversial moment of the rally. Trump’s speech included misgendering the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif who yesterday won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics and mocking overweight Democrat Senator John Tester.
This follows a complaint by French musician Woodkid that Trump used his track in a campaign video, without seeking permission.
Woodkid wrote on X on Wednesday: “Run Boy Run is a LGBT+ anthem written by me, a proud LGBT+ musician. How ironic.Once again, I never gave permission for the use of my music on that [Donald Trump] film.” Woodkid had previously complained when the two-minute video was first released in December, but it was re-released this week.
A History of Unauthorized Songs at Trump Rallies
Trump has used “My Heart Will Go On” at his rallies before, including in November 2020, shortly before losing the election to Joe Biden. His campaign has also used songs without requesting rights before – in January 2024, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr reacted with disbelief to footage of the band’s 1984 song “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” being played at Trump rally. In July 2020, the family of the late Tom Petty issued a statement objecting to Trump’s use of the song “I Won’t Back Down” in his campaign. Trump had played the hit 1989 song at his rally in Tulsa, but Petty’s estate claimed he was not authorised to use it. In a statement, the family said Trump’s campaign “leaves too many Americans and common sense behind”. “Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind,” they continued. “Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.” The following month, Neil Young sued Trump for copyright infringement over the use of two of his songs in what the artist calls a “campaign of ignorance and hate”.
A History of Unauthorized Songs at Trump Rallies
Trump has used “My Heart Will Go On” at his rallies before, including in November 2020, shortly before losing the election to Joe Biden. His campaign has also used songs without requesting rights before – in January 2024, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr reacted with disbelief to footage of the band’s 1984 song “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” being played at Trump rally. In July 2020, the family of the late Tom Petty issued a statement objecting to Trump’s use of the song “I Won’t Back Down” in his campaign. Trump had played the hit 1989 song at his rally in Tulsa, but Petty’s estate claimed he was not authorised to use it. In a statement, the family said Trump’s campaign “leaves too many Americans and common sense behind”. “Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination of any kind,” they continued. “Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together.” The following month, Neil Young sued Trump for copyright infringement over the use of two of his songs in what the artist calls a “campaign of ignorance and hate”.
Celine Dion's Connection to Trump
Dion and her husband, René Angélil, frequently dined at Trump's Mar-a-Lago in the 1990s. She was a fan of the French chef Bernard Goupy, especially his signature Caesar salad that was built in an edible cheese bowl. But one day, Trump decided he wasn't making a proper Caesar salad, tossing the salad himself and firing Goupy. However, Celine quickly snapped Goupy up to be her chef at her Jupiter, Florida estate.
