A day after a video surfaced of Donald Trump singing Freedom by Beyoncé, the song central to his rival Kamala Harris’ campaign, the clip has been quietly removed. The singer is not the first to ban Trump from using her music.
Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 5:44 PM
It was quite surprising: in a video on social media by Steven Cheung, the spokesman for Donald Trump’s campaign team, the Republican former president suddenly appeared on Wednesday getting off a plane in Michigan to the sounds of Beyoncé’s hit Freedom. The clip lasted only 13 seconds, but it was enough to cause a stir. Because Freedom is precisely the song on which the campaign of his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris is based.
It didn’t take long for Beyoncé, her agent, and her record label to go into a frenzy. No permission had been asked, her team told Rolling Stone magazine, and the singer immediately threatened legal action to enforce a ban. It’s no secret that Beyoncé votes Democratic. Kamala Harris did get her explicit permission to use her hit. Freedom is therefore central to her campaign.
As of Thursday, the video is nowhere to be found. It was quietly removed and neither Trump nor his spokesperson responded to it. Beyoncé and the Harris campaign team have also not responded yet.
Not the first time
It is far from the first time that a musician or music group has made it known that they do not want Donald Trump to use his, her or their music at rallies. Earlier this month, it was Céline Dion who very publicly stated that she did not appreciate him playing My heart will go on at a rally. The Rolling Stones were also not pleased when Trump used the song You can’t always get what you want at his rallies in 2016. In 2020, the band of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards also clashed with Trump.
Tom Petty, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Pharrell Williams, The White Stripes, Johnny Marr, Linkin Park, Elton John, Adele, Queen, REM, Everlast and Aerosmith have also threatened legal action – some even took legal action – if Trump continues to use their music.
Another tidbit for those wondering: Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, is using Neil Young’s classic Rockin’ in the Free World in his campaign. Freedom is also central there. And Neil Young is also an artist who has banned Donald Trump from using his music.
