Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently revealed a new painting that quickly caught public attention and sparked debate online. The artwork, created by political artist Jon McNaughton, shows Trump standing as a conductor, leading an orchestra made up of well-known pro-Trump figures. Some of the people shown in the painting include conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The image presents Trump as the central figure, guiding and controlling the movement around him through music.
Trump shared the painting on his social media platform, Truth Social, and paired it with the Queen song “Who Wants to Live Forever.” While the image itself drew mixed reactions, the use of Queen’s music became the biggest talking point. The band did not give permission for their song to be used, which led to a response from Brian May, Queen’s legendary guitarist.
Brian May addressed the situation in an Instagram Reel after many fans sent him the clip and asked for his reaction. He explained that Trump had posted the video using Queen’s music without approval. May also noted that Instagram had muted the sound of his own post in several regions because of copyright rules, which added another layer of irony to the situation.
Instead of giving a strong opinion right away, May chose a thoughtful and open approach. He described the painting as showing “today’s Republicans as musicians in a fictional orchestra,” with Trump acting as the conductor. Rather than telling fans what to think, he invited them to share their own opinions before Queen made any official response.
Brian May then listed a wide range of words fans might use to describe the image. He asked whether people found it inspiring, appealing, appalling, laughable, patriotic, narcissistic, artistic, or inappropriate. He even questioned whether Queen should object to the use of their music, feel angry about it, or simply smile and move on. May ended his message by encouraging respectful discussion and reminding fans to keep the comments clean.
As expected, the response from fans was strong. Thousands of people shared their thoughts in the comments, with many expressing discomfort or frustration over Queen’s music being linked to political messaging. While some viewers supported Trump’s artistic expression, a large number of fans felt the song did not fit the image or message being promoted.
This is not the first time Queen’s music has been used in political settings without permission. In the past, the band has spoken out against unauthorized uses of their songs, including at political rallies. Queen has consistently maintained that their music should not be used to promote political agendas without their consent.
Adding to the discussion, Brian May recently mentioned in an interview that Queen is unlikely to tour the United States at the moment, citing concerns about the current political climate. He described the country as “a dangerous place at the moment,” suggesting that social and political tensions play a role in the band’s decisions.
This situation highlights a larger issue about art, ownership, and politics. Music and visual art are powerful tools, and when they are used in political contexts without permission, it can lead to controversy and backlash. Artists often feel strongly about how their work is represented, especially when it carries emotional or symbolic meaning.
In the end, Trump’s painting and the use of Queen’s song have opened up a wider conversation about creativity, consent, and interpretation. Whether people see the image as bold, strange, offensive, or artistic, one thing is clear — it has sparked strong reactions and reminded everyone that art can quickly become political, even when the artist never intended it to be.