Mick Jagger and Melania Trump Documentary: A Blessing or a Misunderstanding?
Recent reports have cast doubt on claims that Mick Jagger personally approved the employ of The Rolling Stones’ song “Gimme Shelter” in the documentary Melania, which focuses on former First Lady Melania Trump. The controversy centers around conflicting accounts of whether Jagger was directly involved in granting permission for the song’s inclusion.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Marc Beckman, an advisor to the First Lady for 25 years and a producer of the documentary, initially stated to Variety that Jagger “gave us his blessing” and was “involved” in approving the use of “Gimme Shelter.” However, a source close to Jagger has expressed skepticism about this claim, suggesting the singer may not have been directly involved in the decision.
Rights and Permissions
The Rolling Stones’ music catalog is managed by multiple entities. ABKCO Music & Records holds the rights to material created from 1963 to 1971, including “Gimme Shelter,” which was released in 1969. According to The Guardian, a spokesperson for The Rolling Stones clarified that the agreement to use the song was made between ABKCO and the documentary’s producers, and band members were not part of the decision-making process.
A History of Disagreement
This situation arises amidst a history of The Rolling Stones distancing themselves from Donald Trump’s political campaigns. In 2016, the band tweeted their non-endorsement of Trump, and in 2020, representatives indicated they were taking “further steps to exclude” the use of their songs after previous “cease and desist directives” were ignored.
Other Artists and Music Rights
Beckman too revealed to Variety that he faced refusals from other artists regarding music rights for the documentary. Guns N’ Roses, Grace Jones, and the estate of Prince reportedly declined to grant permission for their music to be used, allegedly due to political reasons. Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and director Paul Thomas Anderson accused the documentary of using music from the film Phantom Thread without proper consultation, a claim Beckman disputed.
Trump’s Perspective
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 26, 2026, Donald Trump referred to his wife as a “movie star” while promoting the documentary, which Beckman described as a “non-political, non-ideological story.”