
President Trump‘s unauthorized use of pop songs at his campaign rallies is, by now, old news.
But when Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Fortunate Son” played as he walked off Air Force 1 last Thursday in Michigan, it raised eyebrows due to its lyrics, including those of its writer, John Fogerty.
“Something I was very upset about was the fact that people of privilege, or people that had position, could use that to avoid the draft and not be taken into the military. And that’s why I wrote ‘Fortunate Son.’ That’s really what the whole intent of the song…that was the inspiration for the song. It’s a song I could have written now. So, I find it confusing, I would say, that the President has chosen to use my song when in fact it seemed like he is probably the fortunate son.”
Fogerty wrote “Fortunate Son” in 1969 after having served in the Army Reserve. He completed his active duty in July 1967, then served as a part-time reservist until being discharged in 1968. The song is on CCR’s third album of 1969, Willy and the Poor Boys.

Trump attended the New York Military Academy as a teenager, but once in college he obtained four student draft deferments. Other artists who have objected to Trump using their songs include The Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Neil Young, Journey, Elton John, R.E.M., Adele, The Village People,and the estates of Tom Petty and Prince.