Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is facing backlash once again for using popular songs at rallies without obtaining permission from the artists.
Let us be clear. pic.twitter.com/gexHWjPMYh
— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) August 24, 2024
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The latest incident occurred yesterday, during a rally in Glendale, Arizona, where Trump played the Foo Fighters’ 1997 hit “My Hero” to welcome Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage after Kennedy announced his endorsement of Trump.
The unauthorized use of the song has sparked a strong response from the band.
The Foo Fighters quickly responded, stating that they had not been asked for permission to use “My Hero” and would not have granted it if they had been.
UNITE AMERICA.#RFKJr #trump pic.twitter.com/f5NXgxdRJs
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) August 24, 2024
A spokesperson for the band told Billboard that “appropriate actions are being taken” against the Trump campaign.
Additionally, the band announced that any royalties generated from the use of their song at the rally would be donated to the Harris/Walz campaign, further intensifying the dispute.
Trump introduced Kennedy at the rally with a touch of irony, saying, “I don’t think too many of you people have heard of him, he’s very low-key… He is a great person. I’ve known him for so long. For the past 16 months. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” The chorus of “My Hero” then played as Kennedy joined Trump on stage, accompanied by pyrotechnics.
WATCH 🔥
RFK Jr’s EPIC entrance to President Trump’s rally in Arizona after endorsing Trump pic.twitter.com/iL4RMlKK4D
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 23, 2024
The Foo Fighters were not the only artists to take issue with Trump’s use of their music. Earlier in the same week, on August 22, Beyoncé’s record label and music publisher sent a cease-and-desist notice to the Trump campaign after a video was posted on Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung’s X account.
The video featured footage of Trump stepping off a plane set to Beyoncé’s song “Freedom.” The song had been used with permission by Trump’s opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, as part of her campaign.
After receiving the notice, the video was removed from Cheung’s account.
This marks the third time in August that Trump’s campaign has encountered legal challenges over unauthorized music use.
On August 11, the estate of the late Isaac Hayes filed a notice of copyright infringement against the Trump campaign for its use of Hayes’ song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at multiple rallies between 2022 and 2024. The estate threatened further legal action if the unauthorized use continued.
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