News | Entertainment
1 Jan 2026 6:02
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   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

     Other Entertainment News
     31 Dec: Miley Cyrus pitches her songwriting skills to legendary filmmakers and Hollywood stars at events to get involved in movies
     31 Dec: Jamie Lee Curtis is glad she narrowly dodged fame as a child thanks to her late mom Janet Leigh
     31 Dec: Olivia Culpo is saving all her clothes for her daughter
     31 Dec: Billie Lourd has paid tribute to her grandmother Debbie Reynolds on the ninth anniversary of her death
     31 Dec: Toni Collette has praised Kate Winslet for bringing an "incredible sense of trust and freedom" to the set of Goodbye June
     31 Dec: Ashley Park dec lares crocheting as her personal Roman Empire
     31 Dec: Erin Doherty used to order coffees in Anne, Princess Royal's regal voice to see how people reacted
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The quarter-finals are set at the world darts championship - and for the first time in a non-Covid year since 2012 Michael van Gerwen won't be there More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A gang of thieves has made off with tens of millions of euros - after drilling into a German bank vault in a daring holiday heist More...



     Today's News

    Environment:
    Heavy rain is expected for the Northwest of the South Island 21:57

    Health & Safety:
    The cricket community is rallying around Damien Martyn after the Australian great was hospitalised suddenly in Brisbane 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Miley Cyrus pitches her songwriting skills to legendary filmmakers and Hollywood stars at events to get involved in movies 20:08

    Entertainment:
    Jamie Lee Curtis is glad she narrowly dodged fame as a child thanks to her late mom Janet Leigh 19:38

    International:
    The US is ramping up its security in Louisiana, a year after a deadly terror attack 19:27

    Environment:
    Stormy weather's forecasted to keep battering Northland and Auckland until later tonight 19:27

    Entertainment:
    Olivia Culpo is saving all her clothes for her daughter 19:08

    Entertainment:
    Billie Lourd has paid tribute to her grandmother Debbie Reynolds on the ninth anniversary of her death 18:38

    Environment:
    Power is likely be restored tonight, and support's available for Horowhenua locals affected by Sunday's severe weather event 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Toni Collette has praised Kate Winslet for bringing an "incredible sense of trust and freedom" to the set of Goodbye June 18:08


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd