Donald Trump spokesman uses Beyoncé’s “freedom” in new video

Maybe from Jealousy, a comical attempt at parody, or perhaps simply an inability to come up with an original idea of ​​one's own, prompted one of Donald Trump's campaign spokespeople to use in a recent video posted on social media of Trump… getting off a plane.

Yesterday afternoon, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung shared a 13-second video on social media showing Trump disembarking from a plane in Michigan. It doesn't appear that “Freedom” is playing in the background at the airport, suggesting Cheung likely added it himself.

It is unclear whether Cheung or the Trump campaign received permission from Beyoncé or her team to use “Freedom” in the video. A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not immediately return a comment. Rolling StoneCheung did not respond to a request for comment.

Throughout his political career, Trump has faced opposition from artists whose music he has used, particularly at his campaign rallies. While artists generally can't do much to prevent their songs from being played at such events, the use of “Freedom” in this clip could potentially be the subject of a more forceful cease-and-desist. (That depends, however, on the general mood of Beyoncé and her team, as well as the complex web of music licenses that govern the use of copyrighted music on social media platforms.)

As for Harris, she definitely did Get permission from Beyoncé to use “Freedom,” and the song has even seen a surge in streams since Harris used it at the start of her presidential bid this summer (following Joe Biden’s decision not to run for re-election). Harris went to the lemonade track in her first public appearance after securing Biden's endorsement, and shortly after, her campaign released an official launch video featuring the song. As the Democratic National Convention began earlier this week, “Freedom” played during a new commercial that also featured narration by Oscar-nominated actor Jeffrey Wright.