Overview

• On July 11, X alerted the Defense Department that the original post used Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” without permission, prompting its removal.
• Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said the department took down the original clip before reuploading it without any soundtrack.
• The video shows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signing a memo delivered by a drone to enact President Trump’s executive order expanding U.S. drone operations.
• Metallica’s prompt copyright notice underscores the band’s longstanding efforts to control the use of their music in political and military settings.
• No further unauthorized music uses have been reported since the corrected, music-free version went live mid-July.