The rock band Semisonic is protesting the White House’s use of its song “Closing Time” in a video showing a handcuffed deportee.

The video was posted on Monday on X previously known as Twitter.

It shows a shackled man being frisked, with several men then being led onto a plane with the words “Border Patrol” in the foreground.

The song is heard playing throughout the clip and a line from the lyrics is also used to caption the post: “Closing time, you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”

Semisonic responded with a post on its own X account:

We did not authorize or condone the White House’s use of our song “Closing Time” 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.

— Semisonic (@SemisonicBand) March 17, 2025