President Donald J. Trump played music for members of the media traveling aboard Air Force One on Sunday, September 13, 2026. During the flight returning from Ireland, the president provided a speaker and a selection of songs he stated he had personally chosen for the journalists.
The event took place following a trip to Ireland. According to a White House pool report, Trump sent a lead flight attendant to ask reporters if they wished to hear his music. After they agreed, an attendant brought a large speaker into the press cabin playing a collection of songs labeled "APPROVED RALLY PLAYLIST."
The playlist included a variety of genres and artists, featuring "Jolene" by Dolly Parton, "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore, and the WWE entrance music for The Undertaker. Other selections included "Wild World" by Cat Stevens, "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., "Teenage Wasteland" by The Who, "Nessun Dorma" by Luciano Pavarotti, "Fernando" by ABBA, and "November Rain" by Guns N’ Roses. The pool report noted that the song "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People, frequently played at his rallies, was not included.
Approximately 40 minutes after the music began, Trump entered the press cabin to speak with the reporters. He stated that he wanted to ensure the group was "OK with the music" and told the journalists, "I want to make you happy. So, I’m playing wonderful music. Happy music." During the visit, he also commented on the recent death of Dolly Parton, referring to her as "the greatest" and stating her passing was "a sad moment."
After discussing the music, Trump answered questions regarding an upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other topics. The source did not provide a specific date or location for the meeting with President Xi.