Donald Trump (song)

"Donald Trump" is a song by American rapper Mac Miller, released as the only single from his mixtape Best Day Ever (2011). The melody, which is played throughout the song, is sampled from "Vesuvius" by Sufjan Stevens.[1] The song's music video was uploaded to YouTube on March 3, 2011, while the single was released digitally on May 17, 2011.

For the Time song, see Pandemonium (The Time album).
Not to be confused with FDT (song).

"Donald Trump"
Single by Mac Miller
from the album Best Day Ever
ReleasedFebruary 9, 2011
Recorded2010
GenreHip hop
Length2:45
LabelRostrum
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Sap
Mac Miller singles chronology
"On and On"
(2011)		 "Donald Trump"
(2011)		 "Frick Park Market"
(2011)
Music video
"Donald Trump" on YouTube

The money-inspired song references Donald Trump, who, five years after the song's release, was elected as the 45th president of the United States. Trump and Miller feuded over the song for years, with Trump demanding royalties for the use of his name.

Background

After performing the song for several weeks, Mac Miller released "Donald Trump" as a free download on February 9, 2011.[2][3] Its music video, directed by Ian Wolfson, was uploaded to YouTube on March 3, 2011.[4][5] The song was included in Miller's 2011 mixtape Best Day Ever, and commercially released by Rostrum Records as a single on May 17, 2011.[6]

The money-inspired song refers to Donald Trump, particularly Miller's ambitions to become wealthy and successful like him ("Take over the world when I'm on my Donald Trump shit / Look at all this money, ain't that some shit?").[7] According to Miller, the use of Trump's name was a last-minute decision,[8] and that he "was just somebody who symbolized financial success to everybody at that time".[9] When the music video surpassed 20 million views in August 2011, Trump released a YouTube video congratulating Miller, and branded him "the new Eminem".[10][11] Miller responded appreciatively, but played down any comparisons between himself and Eminem.[12]

As the song garnered more streams in 2012, Trump took a more aggressive tone and demanded royalties for using his name, igniting a feud with Miller.[9] In a January 2013 interview, Miller insulted Trump and said he was bothered by Trump taking credit for the song's success. He added that he could have referenced Bill Gates instead and that the name did not matter. In response, Trump threatened Miller with a lawsuit via a series of tweets.[13] In July 2015, Trump changed his attitude toward Miller again when he ended an interview by praising Miller's song as it approached 100 million views.[14] During Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Miller denounced Trump and urged people to not elect him.[15] Miller said on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore that he "hated" Trump, and described him as "an egomaniacal, attention-thirsty, psychopathic, power-hungry, delusional waste of skin and bones".[16][17]

Critical reception

Rolling Stone's Nick Catucci called the track an "irresistible bro-down".[18]

Chart performance

"Donald Trump" was Miller's first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100, entering at number 80 on chart dated June 11, 2011,[19] and peaked at number 75 on January 7, 2012.[20] On March 19, 2013, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for digital download sales in excess of one million.[21][22]

The song also charted in SNEP, the official French Singles Chart, peaking at number 110 in June 2012.[23]

Track listing
Digital download[6]
No.TitleLength
1."Donald Trump" (explicit)2:45
2."Donald Trump" (clean)2:45

Charts

Weekly charts
Chart (2011–18) Peak
position
France (SNEP)[23] 110
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[24] 47
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 75

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[25] Gold 15,000^
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References
  1. Zisook, Brian (June 15, 2017). "Mac Miller Cleared Sufjan Stevens Sample on "Donald Trump" For Free". DJ Booth. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  2. Big Homie (February 9, 2011). "New Music: Mac Miller "Donald Trump"". Rap Radar. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  3. Lilah, Rose (February 9, 2011). "Mac Miller – Donald Trump". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  4. "Mac Miller – Donald Trump". Rostrum Records. March 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 6, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2019 – via YouTube.
  5. "Mac Miller". Retrieved August 4, 2019 – via YouTube.
  6. "Donald Trump – Single by Mac Miller". Rostrum Records. May 17, 2011. Retrieved August 3, 2019 – via iTunes Store.
  7. Espionza, Joshua (November 9, 2016). "Mac Miller's 2011 Hit "Donald Trump" Surges on iTunes". Complex. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  8. "Mac Miller talks Twitter exchange with Donald Trump". XXL. July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  9. Makarechi, Kia (January 25, 2016). "Mac Miller, Donald Trump's Least Favorite Rapper, Revisits Feud". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  10. Horowitz, Steven J. (August 18, 2011). "Donald Trump Brands Mac Miller "The Next Eminem"". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  11. Zaru, Deena (September 2, 2015). "What hip-hop lyrics tell us about Donald Trump". CNN. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  12. Chandler, D. L. (August 24, 2011). "Mac Miller Responds To Donald Trump's Eminem Comparison". MTV News. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  13. Nostro, Lauren (January 31, 2013). "Donald Trump Threatens Mac Miller With Lawsuit, Calls Him an "Ungrateful Dog"". Complex. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  14. Cirilli, Kevin (July 23, 2015). "Trump praises rapper's 'great' song about him". The Hill. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  15. Zaru, Deena (December 17, 2015). "Mac Miller resurrects Donald Trump feud". CNN. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  16. Lynch, Joe (March 10, 2016). "Mac Miller to Donald Trump: 'Make America Great Again? You Want to Make America White Again'". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  17. Zaru, Deena (March 11, 2016). "Mac Miller: Donald Trump wants to 'make America white again'". CNN. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  18. Nick Catucci (June 18, 2013). "Mac Miller, 'Watching Movies With the Sound Off | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  19. Caulfield, Keith (September 10, 2018). "Mac Miller's Music Streams Increased 970% Following Death". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  20. "Mac Miller Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  21. "American single certifications – Mac Miller – Donald Trump". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 19, 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  22. "RIAA Announces Ten First-Time Digital Award Recipients". Recording Industry Association of America. April 18, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  23. "Lescharts.com – Mac Miller – Donald Trump" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  24. "Mac Miller Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  25. "Danish single certifications – Mac Miller – Donald Trump". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
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