Donald Trump (song)

{{Hatnote group|

{{About|the Mac Miller song|other songs of the same name|Donald Trump (disambiguation)#Songs}}

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{{Infobox song

| name = Donald Trump

| cover = Donald-trump-by-mac-miller.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Mac Miller

| album = Best Day Ever

| released = February 9, 2011

| recorded = 2010

| studio = I.D. Labs

| venue =

| genre = Hip hop

| length = 2:45

| label = Rostrum

| writer = {{flatlist|

}}

| producer = Sap

| chronology = Mac Miller

| prev_title = On and On

| prev_year = 2011

| next_title = Frick Park Market

| next_year = 2011

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|74TFS8r_SMI|"Donald Trump"}} }}

}}

"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.{{cite news|last=Zisook|first=Brian|url=https://djbooth.net/features/2017-06-15-mac-miller-donald-trump-free|title=Mac Miller Cleared Sufjan Stevens Sample on "Donald Trump" For Free|date=June 15, 2017|access-date=August 4, 2019|newspaper=Djbooth|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111193733/https://djbooth.net/features/2017-06-15-mac-miller-donald-trump-free|url-status=live}} The song's music video was uploaded to YouTube on March 3, 2011, while the single was released digitally on May 17, 2011.

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.{{cite web|author=Big Homie|url=http://rapradar.com/2011/02/09/new-music-mac-miller-donald-trump/|title=New Music: Mac Miller "Donald Trump"|date=February 9, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2019|website=Rap Radar|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804091955/http://rapradar.com/2011/02/09/new-music-mac-miller-donald-trump/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Lilah|first=Rose|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mac-miller-donald-trump-song.187854.html|title=Mac Miller – Donald Trump|date=February 9, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2019|website=HotNewHipHop|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804091954/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mac-miller-donald-trump-song.187854.html|url-status=live}} Its music video, directed by Ian Wolfson, was uploaded to YouTube on March 3, 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74TFS8r_SMI|title=Mac Miller – Donald Trump|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306001451/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74TFS8r_SMI|archive-date=March 6, 2011|url-status=live|date=March 3, 2011|access-date=December 6, 2019|publisher=Rostrum Records|via=YouTube}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/TreeJTV/videos|title=Mac Miller|via=YouTube|access-date=August 4, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108180147/https://www.youtube.com/user/TreeJTV/videos|url-status=live}} 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.

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?").{{cite web|last=Espionza|first=Joshua|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2016/11/mac-miller-2011-donald-trump-song-returns-to-top-30-itunes|title=Mac Miller's 2011 Hit "Donald Trump" Surges on iTunes|work=Complex|date=November 9, 2016|access-date=August 4, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804092001/https://www.complex.com/music/2016/11/mac-miller-2011-donald-trump-song-returns-to-top-30-itunes|url-status=live}} According to Miller, the use of Trump's name was a last-minute decision,{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2011/07/donald-trump-gives-mac-miller-props-for-donald-song-via-twitter/|title=Mac Miller talks Twitter exchange with Donald Trump|date=July 14, 2011|access-date=December 6, 2019|work=XXL|archive-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206230147/https://www.xxlmag.com/xxl-magazine/2011/07/donald-trump-gives-mac-miller-props-for-donald-song-via-twitter/|url-status=live}} and that he "was just somebody who symbolized financial success to everybody at that time". When the music video surpassed 20 million views in August 2011, Trump released a YouTube video congratulating Miller, and branded him "the new Eminem".{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16501/title.donald-trump-brands-mac-miller-the-next-eminem |title=Donald Trump Brands Mac Miller "The Next Eminem"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209055544/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16501/title.donald-trump-brands-mac-miller-the-next-eminem|archive-date=February 9, 2012|url-status=dead|website=HipHopDX |date=August 18, 2011 |access-date=August 4, 2019}}{{cite news|last1=Zaru|first1=Deena|title=What hip-hop lyrics tell us about Donald Trump|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/politics/donald-trump-rich-hip-hop-lyrics-rap/|access-date=November 26, 2016|publisher=CNN|date=September 2, 2015|archive-date=November 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127151800/http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/politics/donald-trump-rich-hip-hop-lyrics-rap/|url-status=live}} Miller responded appreciatively, but played down any comparisons between himself and Eminem.{{cite web|last=Chandler|first=D. L.|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2495948/mac-miller-responds-to-donald-trumps-eminem-comparison/|title=Mac Miller Responds To Donald Trump's Eminem Comparison|publisher=MTV News|date=August 24, 2011|access-date=August 4, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804091954/http://www.mtv.com/news/2495948/mac-miller-responds-to-donald-trumps-eminem-comparison/|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Makarechi |first1=Kia |title=Mac Miller, Donald Trump's Least Favorite Rapper, Revisits Feud |url=http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/01/mac-miller-donald-trump-feud |access-date=June 13, 2016 |work=Vanity Fair |date=January 25, 2016 |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001170233/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/01/mac-miller-donald-trump-feud |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web|last=Nostro|first=Lauren|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/donald-trump-threatens-to-sue-mac-miller|title=Donald Trump Threatens Mac Miller With Lawsuit, Calls Him an "Ungrateful Dog"|date=January 31, 2013|access-date=August 4, 2019|work=Complex|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112020330/https://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/donald-trump-threatens-to-sue-mac-miller|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Cirilli |first1=Kevin |title=Trump praises rapper's 'great' song about him |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/248911-trump-praises-rappers-great-song-about-him/ |access-date=November 26, 2016 |work=The Hill |date=July 23, 2015 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108130309/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/248911-trump-praises-rappers-great-song-about-him |url-status=live }} During Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Miller denounced Trump and urged people to not elect him.{{cite web|last=Zaru|first=Deena|url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/mac-miller-donald-trump-feud/index.html|title=Mac Miller resurrects Donald Trump feud|date=December 17, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2019|publisher=CNN|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316004725/https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/17/politics/mac-miller-donald-trump-feud/index.html|url-status=live}} 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".{{cite magazine|last=Lynch|first=Joe|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7014823/mac-miller-donald-trump-racist-nightly-show|title=Mac Miller to Donald Trump: 'Make America Great Again? You Want to Make America White Again'|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314003725/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7014823/mac-miller-donald-trump-racist-nightly-show|archive-date=March 14, 2016|url-status=live|date=March 10, 2016|access-date=August 4, 2019|magazine=Billboard}}{{cite news|last1=Zaru|first1=Deena|title=Mac Miller: Donald Trump wants to 'make America white again'|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/mac-miller-donald-trump/|access-date=August 4, 2019|publisher=CNN|date=March 11, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403220157/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/11/politics/mac-miller-donald-trump/|url-status=live}}

Critical reception

Rolling Stone{{'}}s Nick Catucci called the track an "irresistible bro-down".{{cite magazine |author=Nick Catucci |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/watching-movies-with-the-sound-off-20130618 |title=Mac Miller, 'Watching Movies With the Sound Off | Album Reviews |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |archive-date=June 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621191211/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/watching-movies-with-the-sound-off-20130618 |url-status=live }}

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,{{cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8474360/mac-miller-music-streams-increased-970-percent-death|title=Mac Miller's Music Streams Increased 970% Following Death|date=September 10, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2019|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215120015/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8474360/mac-miller-music-streams-increased-970-percent-death|archive-date=February 15, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} and peaked at number 75 on January 7, 2012. On March 19, 2013, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for digital download sales in excess of one million.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/riaa-announces-ten-first-time-digital-award-recipients/|title=RIAA Announces Ten First-Time Digital Award Recipients|date=April 18, 2013|access-date=August 4, 2019|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|archive-date=February 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203155233/https://www.riaa.com/riaa-announces-ten-first-time-digital-award-recipients/|url-status=live}}

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

Track listing

{{Track listing

| headline = Digital download{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/donald-trump-single/id438785802 |title=Donald Trump – Single by Mac Miller |publisher=Rostrum Records |via=iTunes Store |date=May 17, 2011 |access-date=August 3, 2019 |archive-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223061922/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/donald-trump-single/id438785802 |url-status=dead }}

| title1 = Donald Trump

| note1 = explicit

| length1 = 2:45

| title2 = Donald Trump

| note2 = clean

| length2 = 2:45

}}

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2011–18) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable"
{{singlechart\|France\|110\|artist=Mac Miller\|song=Donald Trump\|access-date=August 3, 2019\|refname=SNEP}}
{{singlechart\|Billboarddigitalsongs\|47\|artist=Mac Miller\|song=Donald Trump\|access-date=August 3, 2019}}
{{singlechart\|Billboardhot100\|75\|artist=Mac Miller\|song=Donald Trump\|access-date=August 3, 2019\|refname=BB Hot 100}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2011|title=Donald Trump|artist=Mac Miller|certyear=2013|id=6340|access-date=January 21, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2011|access-date=November 19, 2012|title=Donald Trump|artist=Mac Miller|certyear=2012|digital=true|refname=RIAA}}