Throughout their presidential campaigns, musicians have graced the platforms of both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
People typically take sides when it comes to politics, and some of our favorite celebrities are no different.
While several well-known celebrities, like Jason Aldean, Ye, Kid Rock, and Sexyy Red, have shown some sort of support for Trump, using an artiste’s song on campaign rallies without permission is a different story.
Throughout his political career, President Trump has offended some musicians whose songs he allegedly exploited throughout his campaign without their consent.
For example, Jack White, Beyoncé, and Foo Fighters all voiced their disgust at Trump’s staff, seemingly using their song without permission.
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While Mr. Trump may be many things, he is undoubtedly no stranger to these accusations or to cease-and-desist letters.
As the election campaigns approach their last stretch ahead of the forthcoming debate, we look at musicians who have protested against Trump’s usage of their music from the time he first came to office.
Earth, Wind & Fire
Trump ran for president for the first time in the 2016 election year.
The house band at the 2016 Republican National Convention, where Trump formally accepted his nomination as the party’s nominee, played September without permission. Earth, Wind & Fire responded with a statement during one of his rallies.
A member of the band tweeted: “Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes.”
Prince
Trump has had such bad luck with certain musicians that Prince’s estate had to send him a cease-and-desist letter after the politician used Purple Rain at campaign events in 2018 and 2019.
Pharrell
When Trump played Happy at a rally in Indiana during the 2020 election year, Pharrell was not impressed, and via his attorney, the musician issued a cease-and-desist letter to Trump’s team.
Rihanna
Using her 2007 song Don’t Stop the Music at one of Trump’s rallies, Rihanna made her opinion on the candidate obvious as seen by a now-famous tweet where most of his supporters labeled her racist.
She wrote, “Me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies.”
Beyoncé
The latest one comes from Beyoncé following the release of a video on the internet featuring President Trump disembarking from a plane with the song “Freedom” playing in the background.
The song has had the approval of Beyoncé for the usage of Kamala Harris’ campaign and its subsequent adoption as the theme song.
As a result, Beyoncé’s team sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Republican political candidate.
