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6 Feb 2026 17:28
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Donald Trump's administration has been slammed by the band Semisonic for using their hit song 'Closing Time' in a controversial deportation video shared on social media

    The White House and Border Patrol's official Instagram accounts posted a video showing agents searching undocumented immigrants before deportation, set to the group's 1998 track


    Their post was captioned with lyrics from the song, reading: "'You don't have to go home but you can't stay here' @borderpatrol."

    Minneapolis-based band Semisonic has now responded to the use of their music in a statement to DailyMail.com.

    They said: "We did not authorise or condone the White House's use of our song in any way. And no, they didn't ask.

    "The song is about joy and possibilities and hope, and they have missed the point entirely."

    The track was written by frontman Dan Wilson, 63, who has previously spoken about its meaning.

    In a 2018 interview with Billboard, the musician explained 'Closing Time' was partially inspired by the birth of his daughter, Coco.

    He said: "The guys wanted a new song to close our sets with. I thought 'Closing Time' would be a good title.

    "We had spent seven years of our lives at that point, four nights a week entertaining people. That was our life.

    Some bouncers yelling things, closing time coming, all that imagery - literally, that's how the song started.

    "And then when I was halfway done, I started realising the whole thing was a pun about being born, so I just made sure that the rest of the thing could ride with that double meaning. But nobody got the joke and I didn't bother to explain. I thought everyone would get it."

    Dan has continued a successful career in songwriting and co-wrote the Grammy Award-winning 2011 Adele track 'Someone Like You'.

    'Closing Time' became a major hit in the late 1990s, reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and charting in the top 50 in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian and Sir Lewis Hamilton have been on "a few dates recently" 17:01

    Rugby:
    All Blacks lock Fabian Holland has suffered what appears to be a shoulder injury in the Highlanders' 41-31 Super Rugby preseason win over Moana Pasifika in Queenstown 16:57

    Entertainment:
    Rachel McAdams wants Wuthering Heights star Margot Robbie to give her tips on how to act in the rain 16:31

    Soccer:
    Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne admits there's work to do if he's to make the All Whites' football World Cup squad 16:17

    International:
    US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty expires as Trump rejects Moscow's one-year extension 16:07

    Entertainment:
    Sydney Sweeney is reportedly looking to move into the beauty space 16:01

    Entertainment:
    Ant McPartlin has reportedly joined one of Britain's most exclusive celebrity neighbourhoods 15:31

    Rugby League:
    The Indigenous All Stars have confirmed South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell will miss the annual fixture against the Maori for the second straight year 15:27

    Law and Order:
    A Porirua boatie will appear in court in the coming days - after fleeing from Police today 15:27

    Entertainment:
    Eddie Murphy's son and Martin Lawrence's daughter are expecting their first child together 15:01


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