Queen guitarist Brian May has weighed in after former U.S. President Donald Trump used the band’s song “Who Wants to Live Forever” in a political social-media post — and the response is stirring debate online.
The controversy centers on a Truth Social video Trump shared this week promoting a new painting dubbed the “MAGA Symphony,” which depicts him as a conductor leading a fictional orchestra of conservative figures. Trump’s post used Queen’s “Who Wants to Live Forever” as its soundtrack — without permission from the band, according to May.
May took to Instagram on Feb. 4 to address the situation, acknowledging he had seen many messages about the use of Queen’s music and teasing that Instagram was filtering the sound in some regions. In his post May didn’t immediately denounce or endorse the image — instead, he invited fans to weigh in on how they felt about it.
In his message, May asked followers whether they found the pairing of Queen’s music and the political depiction “inspiring,” “appealing,” “appalling,” “laughable,” or “patriotic” among many other conflicting descriptors. He challenged fans with questions about how they thought Queen should react — whether to object, applaud, feel honoured, angry, or even smile benignly at the treatment of the band’s work.
Many fans responding to May’s post criticized the artistic mash-up and the use of “Who Wants to Live Forever.” One commenter framed the issue as a misuse of art, saying Trump’s imagery and rhetoric clashed with the emotional themes of the song, which honors humanity and impermanence rather than self-mythology.
Queen has a history of objecting to political uses of their music. In 2016, the band publicly opposed Trump’s use of “We Are the Champions” at the Republican National Convention, and in 2019 they blocked another rally video set to “We Will Rock You.”
May’s reaction is notable for its openness to dialogue rather than immediate condemnation. By prompting fans to share their thoughts, he’s turned the moment into a broader conversation about art, politics and ownership. Some responses have been negative toward the Trump post, while others view May’s neutral invitation as a creative way to gauge public sentiment before the band takes an official legal or public stance.
The episode also occurs amid wider concerns May has voiced about performing in the U.S. in the current political and social climate, noting in recent interviews that America feels “too dangerous” for Queen tours at the moment — a comment tied to broader tensions and safety issues when artists engage with American audiences.
