Former President Donald Trump tried to mess with the queen Beyoncé, but quickly failed. According to Rolling Stone, the 32-time Grammy Award-winning star issued a cease-and-desist to Trump’s campaign after the 78-year-old Republican used her hit song “Freedom” in a video posted to social media on Aug. 20.
The video shared to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday by Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, captured the controversial politician de-boarding a plane in Michigan. At one point, the former president, who was convicted in his New York hush money trial in May, threw up celebratory fists to photographers standing nearby.
“Touchdown in Michigan!” Cheung captioned the clip.
What is a cease-and-desist letter?
A cease-and-desist letter is a formal document sent to an individual or organization to demand the cessation of a specific activity considered illegal, harmful, or infringing on someone’s rights. It generally describes the issue at hand, specifying the activity or behavior in question and the legal grounds for the complaint, including relevant laws or regulations. The letter explicitly demands that the recipient stop the offending activity and refrain from any further actions.
According to sources, Trump and his officials did not obtain permission from the renowned singer, which led to the issuance of the letter.
Thankfully, the corny video wasn’t up for long. It was quickly deleted after news of the cease-and-desist made headlines. Neither Trump nor Cheung have issued a comment about the song’s illegal usage in the 13-second clip.
“Freedom,” a track from Beyoncé’s sixth studio album, Lemonade, unofficially became Harris’ campaign anthem when she began her presidential bid in late July. Harris received authorization from Beyoncé and her label to use the song. At 59, Harris played the track after her first speech announcing her endorsement by Biden following his withdrawal from the presidential race. Soon after, her campaign released an official launch video featuring the hit tune.
Harris debuted a new ad soundtracked to “Freedom” on Monday.
On Night 1 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) Aug. 19, Beyoncé’s “Freedom” could also be heard in a new campaign ad debuted by Harris and her VP pick Tim Walz. The new spot, features narration from American Fiction star Jeffrey Wright. At the top of the new campaign ad, Wright kicks off with a powerful message for Americans.
“What kind of America do we want? One where we are divided, angry, depressed? C’mon were Americans!” the Hollywood star says. “Facism, we conquered it. The moon? Landed on it. The future? Building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more, and we fight for it.”
Watch the new ad in full below.
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