U.S. Government Removes Metallica Song From Now-Deleted Drone Video

Neil Young, John Fogerty, Adele, and Queen are just a few artists who have taken legal action to stop President Donald Trump’s unauthorized use of their music. Now, Metallica joins that list. Recently, Pete Hegseth, had to delete a video from X/Twitter after using “Enter Sandman” without Metallica’s permission.

U.S. Government Reposts Drone Video Without Metallica Song

The Pentagon recently deleted and reposted a video featuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth extolling the Trump administration’s expansion of drone warfare. In the first version, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” played in the background. On July 11, Hegseth re-posted the video without the music.

Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance @DOGE pic.twitter.com/esaQtswwDb

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) July 11, 2025

A Metallica representative confirmed to Rolling Stone that the nine-time Grammy Award winners did not sign off on this video. Additionally, the Department of Defense told a Military.com reporter that X reached out asking them to take down the clip.

“The video has been taken down, corrected, and re-uploaded to our page,” DOD Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said.

The @PressSecDOD Kingsley Wilson confirms that the soundtrack caused copyright issues – https://t.co/qYfcGJUARg pic.twitter.com/fhYDSHgxrm

— Konstantin Toropin (@KToropin) July 11, 2025

These British Rockers Also Say The President Used Their Music Without Permission

Metallica are far from the only musicians who have taken legal measures to prevent the current administration from using their work. Recently, the Hollies sent a cease-and-desist letter to the organizers of Trump’s military/birthday parade. Allegedly, they used their song “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” without consent.

According to the letter, Rolling Stone reported, Wise Music Group, which represents the song’s co-writer Bob Russell, denied organizers permission in writing to play the song. Nonetheless, attendees heard “He Ain’t Heavy” twice during the event.

The letter also points out that organizers did not seek permission from Amber Scott, daughter of late co-writer Bobby Scott.

 “My dad’s song was performed live during the fireworks finale. It wasn’t used in some incidental way… you know, as background music to passing tanks,” Scott told Rolling Stone. ” It seems that the organizers felt so strongly about the message in my dad’s song that they made a very detailed plan to use it, without authorization, during the finale.”

Featured image by Jeff Hahne/Getty Images