Beyoncé threatens Trump campaign with cease and desist order over “Freedom” videos

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Beyoncé has reportedly threatened to send a cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign over the unauthorized use of her song “Freedom.”

On Tuesday (August 20), Donald Trump's campaign spokesman Steven Cheung posted a 13-second video on social media showing the Republican candidate disembarking from the plane in Michigan. The clip, in which Trump makes a fist with both hands as he walks on the tarmac, is overlaid with the singer's 2016 song.

A source close to Beyoncé said Rolling Stone that the former president did not receive permission to use the title of her hit lemonade Album.

The Independent has reached out to Beyoncé’s representative for further comment.

The video has been available on X (formerly Twitter) since Wednesday.

Vice President Kamala Harris made “Freedom” her unofficial campaign anthem last month after she became the Democratic Party’s nominee.

CNN reported that Beyoncé gave Harris permission to use the song until the November election.

The Trump campaign's recent use of the song has sparked heated reactions from several Beyoncé fans.

“Freedom is a song about slavery and police brutality against POC. How disgusting and despicable when any of you use the song to support this convicted felon,” one person tweeted.

Trump was recently sued for a multimillion-dollar sum by the estate of the late singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes for allegedly using the song “Hold On, I'm Coming” without permission at Republican rallies and in campaign videos.

The Hayes family's lawyers argue that Trump owes the estate $150,000 for each unauthorized use of the song. Trump's campaign team is said to have used the song over 100 times.

Earlier this month, Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, were additionally condemned by Céline Dion for performing her Oscar-winning song “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic Soundtrack at their rally in Montana.

Dion later criticized and mocked Trump for using her song in a statement shared on her social media accounts.

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“Today, Celine Dion's management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized use of the video, recording, musical performance and image of Celine Dion singing 'My Heart Will Go On' at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” the post said. “This use is not authorized in any way and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use.”

The statement then mocked the campaign's decision to use a song from a movie about a sinking ship, adding: “…And really, THAT song?”

In 2016, Trump regularly played Adele's hit “Rolling in the Deep” to energize crowds at his campaign rallies. Shortly thereafter, the 16-time Grammy winner told Trump that he did not have her permission to use her song at his rallies.