Trump campaign deletes video of Beyoncé's “Freedom” under legal threat

The Trump campaign team does not have the freedom to use Beyoncé's “Freedom.”

Former President Donald Trump's team removed a video of the singer's song after her record label and music publisher reportedly threatened to send a cease and desist letter. Rolling Stone reported on Wednesday.

The video showed the lemonade The track was playing as Trump stepped off a plane in Michigan. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung posted the video on Twitter on Tuesday with the caption “Touchdown in Michigan!! @realDonaldTrump.” The tweet has since been deleted.

The 2016 song has become the unofficial anthem of Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' presidential campaign with her running mate Tim Walz, and Beyoncé's team had previously given Harris' camp permission to use it. Harris has been using the song since the start of her presidential campaign this summer. “Freedom” played on the podium during her first appearance after President Joe Biden's endorsement, and as recently as Monday in a new commercial that also featured Jeffrey Wright as a narrator.

Beyoncé’s “Freedom” was also played throughout the Democratic National Convention currently taking place in Chicago.

Representatives of Trump's campaign team and Beyoncé did not immediately respond to Weekly entertainmentPlease leave a comment.

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This isn't the first time Trump's team has used music without permission, prompting swift pushback from artists. Earlier this month, the estate of Isaac Hayes took legal action against the Trump campaign for using “Hold On, I'm Coming” at several Trump rallies over the past two years. And Celine Dion posted a statement on Instagram criticizing the Republican presidential candidate for playing a video of her singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a recent campaign appearance without her permission.

In April, the estate of the late Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor sharply criticised him for playing her 1990 hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” at several events. A joint statement with Chrysalis Records said: “It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work distorted in this way by someone she herself described as a 'biblical devil'.”

Other artists who have spoken out against Trump's use of their music include Pharrell, Johnny Marr of the Smiths, Adele, Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Neil Young, Rihanna, Ozzy Osbourne, Nickelback, Linkin Park, the Rolling Stones, Village People, Panic! at the Disco, Queen, REM, and the estates and families of Tom Petty, Laura Branigan, Prince, and George Harrison. Yet Trump has continued to play many of their songs at his events without permission.