Additional Coverage:
- Metallica issues copyright strike to Pentagon after ‘most ridiculed video in military history’ (themirror.com)
Defense Department Video Ditches Metallica After Backlash
The Department of Defense has quietly removed Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” from a promotional video featuring Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after the band apparently objected to its use. The original video, showcasing the administration’s strategy for drone warfare, featured Hegseth outlining key policy changes against a backdrop of buzzing drones and the iconic Metallica track.
In the video, Hegseth discussed a June executive order aimed at bolstering the American drone industry and equipping the military with cutting-edge technology. He emphasized three key initiatives: increased domestic drone production, equipping combat units with American-made drones, and enhanced training for drone warfare. The video’s dramatic conclusion showed Hegseth receiving a “memo” from a drone before proclaiming that drones are the future of warfare.
However, the video drew widespread mockery online, with critics comparing it to a poorly-made infomercial or a Saturday Night Live skit. The re-uploaded version is noticeably devoid of music, leaving only Hegseth’s voice and the sounds of the drones.
This isn’t the first time the Trump administration’s use of music has drawn criticism. Earlier this year, there was controversy surrounding the use of music at a military parade.