Beyoncé threatens cease and desist order over Trump campaign's “Freedom” videos

Beyoncé has threatened to send a cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign after the former president shared a clip of her “Freedom” – Kamala Harris' unofficial campaign song – in a video posted on social media. Rolling Stone has learned.

A source close to Beyoncé tells Rolling Stone that the Trump campaign did not receive permission to use the song “Lemonade” in the 13-second video showing Trump disembarking from a plane in Michigan, which Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung released on Tuesday.

As of press time on Wednesday, the video was still available on Cheung's X-account despite her label's cease and desist notice.

On Monday, the Harris/Walz campaign unveiled a new ad featuring the soundtrack “Freedom,” narrated by actor Jeffrey Wright: “What kind of America do we want?” he asks. “One where we're divided, angry and depressed? Come on! We're Americans! Fascism? We conquered it. The moon? We landed on it. The future? We're building it. Freedom? Nobody loves it more.”

Harris has been using “Freedom” – with Beyoncé's permission – since the start of her presidential campaign in the summer (after Joe Biden's decision not to seek re-election). In her first public appearance after securing Biden's endorsement, Harris took the podium while “Freedom” was playing. And not long after, her campaign released an official launch video featuring the song.

Trump, on the other hand, is notorious for using music at his campaign rallies without the artists' permission. Dozens of musicians have expressed opposition and legal threats to the former president over the unauthorized use of their songs.