Beyoncé, the globally renowned music icon, has reportedly taken legal action against former President Donald Trump’s campaign for unauthorized use of her song "Freedom" in a social media post. The Trump campaign allegedly used the track, a powerful anthem from her critically acclaimed 2016 album Lemonade, in a video posted on social media, prompting a swift response from the singer's legal team.
According to a source close to the situation, Beyoncé’s representatives sent a cease-and-desist letter to Trump’s campaign after discovering the song had been used in a video showing the former president disembarking from an airplane. The video, which was captioned “Touchdown in Michigan!! @realDonaldTrump,” has since been removed from social media, suggesting that the legal threat was taken seriously by the campaign.
This isn’t the first time "Freedom" has been used in a political context, though it appears Beyoncé is selective about who gets the green light. In July, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris received permission from Beyoncé to use the same track during a visit to her campaign headquarters. Harris, who is vying to succeed Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race, played the song as she made her entrance, a moment that was reportedly approved by the singer’s representatives just hours before the event.
While Beyoncé has not publicly endorsed any candidate in the upcoming election, her mother, Tina Knowles, has been more forthcoming with her support. Shortly after Biden announced he would not seek re-election, paving the way for Harris’s campaign, Ms. Tina took to social media to express her enthusiasm for Harris, praising Biden for his decision and endorsing the vice president as a candidate who represents “new, youthful, sharp energy.”
The use of "Freedom" during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) earlier this week further underscores the song’s symbolic power in the current political climate. Academy Award nominee Jeffrey Wright narrated a segment over the track, delivering a message that called for unity and progress in America. “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,” Wright declared, according to The Daily Mail.
The clash over "Freedom" highlights the ongoing cultural and political significance of Beyoncé’s work, as well as the complexities of using popular music in political campaigns. The unauthorized use of songs by politicians has been a recurring issue, with many artists, including The Rolling Stones and Adele, previously demanding that Trump cease using their music during his rallies.
Beyoncé, who recently ventured into the spirits industry with the launch of her whisky brand SirDavis, named in honor of her late great-grandfather Davis Hogue, continues to maintain a strong influence not only in the music world but also in broader cultural and political discussions. Her assertive stance in protecting her work from being co-opted by political figures like Trump reflects her commitment to controlling how her art is used and perceived.
As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the battle lines are clearly drawn not just on the campaign trail but also in the cultural arena. The first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is scheduled for September 10 in Philadelphia, and it remains to be seen how the candidates will navigate the complex intersection of politics and popular culture in the months ahead.