In a dramatic clash of politics and pop culture, Beyoncé has sent a cease-and-desist letter to former President Donald Trump’s campaign over the unauthorized use of her hit song “Freedom.”
The song, an empowering anthem from Beyoncé’s critically acclaimed Lemonade album, was played by a recent Trump ally in an apparent attempt to replicate Kamala Harris’ triumphant campaign moment when the same song energized her supporters. Unlike Harris, Trump did not seek Queen Bey’s permission, which resulted in swift legal action.
On Tuesday, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, shared a video of the former president disembarking his plane while the song played in the background.
On Wednesday afternoon, the post remained, despite a source close to Beyoncé telling media outlet Rolling Stone that the singer is threatening to send a cease-and-desist letter over the song’s use without her permission.
The incident occurred a few hours after the Harris-Walz campaign released a new ad on Monday featuring the song Freedom and narration by actor Jeffrey Wright. In a voiceover, he narrated, “What kind of America do we want? One where we’re divided, angry, depressed? C’mon! We’re Americans! Fascism? We conquered it. The Moon? Landed on it. The future? Building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more, and we fight for it.”
Harris’s campaign ad also featured walking out to the song to greet the convention attendees.
This latest move adds another chapter to Trump’s rocky history with music icons. The former president has faced legal pushback from several artists over unauthorized use of their songs during his rallies. Just this past week, the family of soul legend Isaac Hayes announced they would be suing Trump for using his song “Hold On (I’m Coming)” at numerous rallies over the past three years.
“Freedom” has become a symbol of social justice, racial equality, and women’s empowerment—values that are consistent with Beyoncé’s brand and activism. Given the contentious political climate and Trump’s divisive legacy, many people are not surprised that her team acted quickly to protect her artistic rights.
