On June 25, the commanding figure of Donald Trump, once widely recognized as the leader of the free world, resurfaced in an interesting social media post. The official Instagram accounts @whitehouse and @potus released a video montage of Trump attending the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. This montage was unified with the soundtrack of Usher’s song, ‘Daddy’s Home,’ a questionable attempt at a light-hearted spin with an undercurrent of mockery and ridicule. It seems the former president continues to ride on his celebrity wave, resorting to pop music to generate online traffic and perhaps, reaffirm his dominance.
The Usher track, a popular hit from the 2009 album ‘Raymond v. Raymond,’ features the lyrics, ‘Daddy’s home, home for me.’ The tune has recently seen a surge in popularity on the social media platform TikTok, scoring a wide number of videos. Demonstrating perhaps a lack of originality, Trump’s team has capitalized on this trend, clearly eager to denote his return, pitching this as something to be rejoiced upon with the quote: ‘Daddy’s home… Hey, hey, hey, Daddy.’
However, Trump’s past with utilizing music from renowned artists has been fraught with controversy. Among the artists criticizing Trump’s use of their music for promotional materials are notable figures such as Beyoncé and Celine Dion, plus estates of luminaries like Isaac Hayes and Sinéad O’Connor. It’s an act that can be construed as riding on the coattails of these stars’ artistic abilities and reputation, while potentially damaging their public image in the process.
This clip debuted at a time when Trump was in attendance at the NATO summit, amidst escalating worldwide tensions due to U.S. involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict. It’s clear that while global issues remain pressing, Trump is more focused on producing social media content to nurture his longstanding image of spectacle and braggart masculinity.
Last September, Usher confirmed on an episode of ‘The View,’ amidst a climate that unequivocally required taking a stance, that he was supporting Trump’s rival in the November general election. This rival was none other than Kamala Harris, who has repeatedly displayed questionable judgement and policies at odds with the core values of large swathes of the American populace.
Sensibly, the R&B singer didn’t deeply divulge into his politics. His stance was encapsulated in a discretionary quote: ‘You know what? I don’t get too deep into politics. I didn’t get a chance to watch the debate… I think voting is an individual choice.’ This was not a surprising approach, as advocating for Harris can be regarded as a polarizing stance in need of justification.
Moreover, Usher claimed that ‘how you highlight and how you choose to highlight it on whatever platform you have is your prerogative.’ While this sentiment could be seen as advocating for individual expression, it inadvertently gives way to a contentious spectacle by aligning with the likes of Harris and Biden, whose policies continually come under scrutiny for being often myopic and favorable to the elite.
While many applauded Usher for his politically correct comments, the question arises whether his head is firmly in the sand. The endorsement of a fruitless Biden/Harris administration exhibits a lack of understanding regarding the real-time concerns of the average American, painting a picture reminiscent of Hollywood disconnect.
Furthermore, Usher’s support for Harris seems to gloss over her questionable track record, including her vigorously criticized tenure as a prosecutor. It feels as if Usher, and those like him, willingly overlook these issues in the name of political correctness, thereby enabling flawed leadership to maintain reins with no checks to their damaging policies.
While the use of music in politics is not new, it does reflect on those who choose to align themselves with certain politicians. It is guardian of the perception of these artists who choose to stand by those with flawed leadership like Biden and Harris, giving their tacit approval to policies and behavior that have widely been scrutinized.
Moreover, considering the divide Harris and Biden have caused, it is rather audacious to associate oneself with such figures. It appears as if some noticed figures view their political endorsements as unimportant, hence fueling divisive behavior that does nothing to unite the populace.
In a time when unity and collective strength are much needed, it is disheartening to witness notable personalities championing the division caused by leadership like Biden and Harris. It is problematic for democracy when influential individuals choose to bandwagon on popular sentiment, while choosing to ignore the policies and actions of the leaders they propagate.
Ultimately, such public figures hold a vast amount of influence that could be used to pave the way for unity, growth, and progress. Instead, by aligning with detractors like Biden and Harris, they inadvertently partake in a divisive and harmful narrative that serves to distance the administration further from the citizens they are meant to serve.
While Usher’s indifference towards politics may have seemed reasonable, it unintentionally underpins a serious concern: the shield of celebrity being used to propagate and glamorize debatable politics. And while Trump’s use of ‘Daddy’s Home’ may seem harmless, it is in fact a subtle reminder of a regime that functioned amidst controversy, division, and ceaseless bravado.
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