Justice for All (song)
{{About|the song by Donald Trump and the J6 Prison Choir|the Metallica song|...And Justice for All (song)|other uses|Justice for All (disambiguation){{!}}Justice for All}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Justice for All
| cover = Justice For All single cover.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Donald Trump and the J6 Prison Choir
| released = {{Start date|2023|03|03}}
| genre = * Choral music
| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=20}}
| writer =
| misc = {{External music video|[https://rumble.com/v2cpfn8-justice-for-all-by-donald-j.-trump-and-j6-prison-choir-official-music-video.html "Justice for All"] at Rumble
| type = single
}}
}}
{{January 6 United States Capitol attack}}
"Justice for All" is a charity record by 45th and 47th United States President Donald Trump and the J6 Prison Choir, a choir of about 20 men imprisoned for their involvement in the January 6 United States Capitol attack. It was announced that profits from the song would be used for the legal aid of people incarcerated for the attack.
Background
{{See also|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|2021 US Capitol attack|Criminal proceedings in the January 6 United States Capitol attack}}
On January 6, 2021, pro-Trump protestors gathered outside the United States Capitol, with some forcefully entering, in an attempt to interfere with the certification of the election of Joe Biden. One person, a protestor named Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by US Capitol Police. There were claims that the protest caused nine deaths after the fact, including law enforcement suicides, and around 1,000 people were charged with crimes in connection to the attack. A 2021 review found that during the attack, approximately 1,000 assaults on law enforcement personnel took place.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/approximately-1000-assaults-law-enforcement-occurred-capitol-attack/story?id=79793226 |title='Approximately 1,000' assaults on law enforcement occurred during Capitol attack, DOJ review finds |website=ABC News |first=Alexander |last=Mallin |date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=April 12, 2023 }} After the attack, Trump admitted to financially supporting those charged with crimes and had promised to consider issuing full pardons to rioters in the future.{{Cite news |title=Trump takes support for Jan. 6 rioters to new level, collaborates on a song |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 3, 2023 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/03/trump-jan-6-rioters-song/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0190-8286|first=Amy B|last=Wang}}{{Cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Nicky|last2=Holmes|first2=Kristen |date=2023-03-04 |title=Trump featured in song by January 6 prisoners choir |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/04/politics/january-6-prisoners-choir-trump/index.html |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=CNN |language=en}} At the beginning of his second term, Trump fully pardoned most rioters involved with crimes on January 6.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-21 |title=Trump pardons upend massive Jan. 6 prosecution by freeing rioters and dismissing cases |url=https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trump-pardons-jan-6-f6e23bcd84eaed672318c88f05286767 |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=AP News |language=en}}
Content
The song consists of Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America interspersed with the J6 Prison Choir singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" with an ambient backing track. The song finishes with the choir chanting "U-S-A!" six times.{{Cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=2023-03-03 |title=Singin' the coups: Donald Trump releases single with January 6 prisoners |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/03/donald-trump-song-charity-single-january-6-prisoners |access-date=2023-03-05 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Shoaib |first=Alia |title=Donald Trump releases song with Capitol riot prisoners called 'Justice for All' |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-released-a-song-with-capitol-riot-prisoners-2023-3 |date=March 4, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} The Pledge of Allegiance portion was recorded at Trump's home at Mar-a-Lago, while the choir's singing was recorded through a prison phone.
Royalties
The project was reportedly organized by conservative commentator and former Fox News host Ed Henry and Henry's record label Mailman Media, INC. who stated that royalties will be donated to family members of people incarcerated for participating in the Capitol attack.{{cn |date=September 2024 |reason=There is no mention of LJ Fino or Mailman Media in the sources cited for this paragraph.}} Forbes reported that the recipients would "be vetted to ensure funds do not go to anyone who assaulted police officers" during the attack.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/03/21/trump-hits-no-1-with-justice-for-all-song-made-with-jan-6-arrestees/ |first=Marisa |last=Dellatto |date=March 21, 2023 |title=Trump Hits No. 1 with 'Justice for All' Song Made with Jan. 6 Arrestees |website=Forbes |access-date=April 12, 2023 }}
Forbes said the record "was reportedly produced by a major recording artist who was not identified".{{Cite web |last=Everson |first=Zach |title=Trump And Jan. 6 Prisoners Collaborate On New Song Called 'Justice For All' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacheverson/2023/03/02/trump-and-jan-6-prisoners-collaborate-on-new-song-called-justice-for-all/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |date=March 2, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Music video
A music video premiered on Steve Bannon's podcast War Room; it shows footage of Trump "performing patriotic acts during his presidency" and footage of the January 6 United States Capitol attack. The music video later appeared on Rumble and Locals on March 9 and March 10.{{Cite magazine |date=March 20, 2023 |title=Donald J. Trump & J6 Prison Choir's 'Justice for All' Debuts at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/donald-trump-j6-prison-choir-justice-for-all-digital-song-sales-chart-1235289593/ |access-date=March 23, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} The D.C. Department of Corrections is investigating because detainees are prohibited from using video-sharing platforms.{{cite news |last1=Arnsdorf |first1=Isaac |last2=Kelly |first2=Meg |last3=Weiner |first3=Rachel |last4=Jackman |first4=Tom |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2023/trump-j6-prison-choir/ |title=Behind Trump's musical tribute to some of the most violent Jan. 6 rioters |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 4, 2023 |access-date=May 5, 2023}}
Reception
Barb McQuade, a University of Michigan law professor and former attorney, called the song "a disinformation tactic right out of the authoritarian playbook". Some online users reacted negatively as well, calling Trump "narcissistic" for the song.{{Cite web |title=Donald Trump Extends Support For Capitol Rioters, Collaborates On A Song |date=March 4, 2023 |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/donald-trump-and-capitol-rioters-collaborate-on-new-song-called-justice-for-all-3833479 |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=NDTV.com}}
A YouTube upload of the single, released on March 4, 2023, had been viewed 504,000 times by March 13.{{Cite web |last=Oshin |first=Olafimihan |date=2023-03-13 |title=J6 Prison Choir song featuring Trump reaches No. 1 on iTunes |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/3896775-j6-prison-choir-song-featuring-trump-reaches-reaches-no-1-on-itunes/ |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} As of September 2024, that video was no longer available on YouTube, but showed a total viewing count of 1,253,000 views.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhXDz_ZTMfQ |via=YouTube |title=Justice for All |date=March 2, 2023 |publisher=Donald J. Trump – Topic}}
Forbes described the record sales as "impressive".{{Cite web |last=Everson |first=Zach |title=Trump And J6 Prison Choir Track Sells 'Impressive' 22,500 Digital Downloads |date=March 14, 2023 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacheverson/2023/03/14/trump-and-j6-prison-choir-track-sells-impressive-22500-digital-downloads/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Billboard magazine described the record's sales success and chart-topping status.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/donald-trump-j6-prison-choir-justice-for-all-digital-song-sales-chart-1235289593/ |magazine=Billboard |title=Donald J. Trump & J6 Prison Choir's 'Justice for All' Debuts at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales Chart }}
= Use in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign rallies =
The song was used in an opener in Trump's first 2024 campaign rally in Waco, Texas.{{Cite web |last=Neukam |first=Stephen |date=2023-03-26 |title=Trump opens campaign rally with song featuring Jan. 6 defendants |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3918877-trump-opens-campaign-rally-with-song-featuring-jan-6-defendants/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Justice for All" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/bubbling-under-hot-100-singles/2023-03-25/|title=Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of March 25, 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 22, 2023|url-access=subscription}}
| 4 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)
| 1 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://j6prisonchoir.com/ J6 Prison Choir website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320040730/https://j6prisonchoir.com/ |date=March 20, 2023 }}
{{Donald Trump}}
{{January 6 United States Capitol attack navbox}}
Category:Works by Donald Trump
Category:The Star-Spangled Banner
Category:Aftermath of the January 6 United States Capitol attack