Trump Campaign Faces Legal Heat Over Beyoncé's "Freedom"

Donald Trump has landed in hot water once again, this time over the unauthorized use of Beyoncé's song "Freedom." This most current scandal comes after the former President's recent misstep involving AI-generated images falsely depicting Taylor Swift endorsing him. With its stirring lyrics about breaking free and becoming independent, the song from Beyoncé's Lemonade album was included in a Trump campaign commercial that portrayed him stepping off a plane in Michigan.

Beyoncé's legal response

Beyoncé's team has not sat idly and let this infringement go without legal repercussions. While the artist herself has not come forward to clarify the matter or even address it on her social media or talk to the media, her attorneys have been stated to have issued a warning. Rolling Stone reports that a cease-and-desist letter is being considered. The video initially remained accessible on X but has since been removed by the Trump campaign's spokesperson, Steven Cheung.

The significance of "Freedom"

The choice of "Freedom" for Trump's campaign video is especially noteworthy. The tune expresses ideologies of freedom and rebellion that are quite opposite to the slogans of the Democratic campaign. Interestingly, "Freedom" has become an unofficial campaign anthem for Tim Walz and Kamala Harris, frequently being played at DNC events. Though not an official endorsement, Beyoncé's support for Harris has been clear, as seen by her high-profile invitation to the Renaissance Tour.

Speculations on DNC appearances

During the controversy, people started questioning if Beyoncé could perform at the Democratic National Convention. As of now, there has been speculation that she might perform on the last day of the convention when Kamala Harris is slated to receive the presidential nomination formally. John Legend and Stevie Wonder have already performed at the DNC, and whispers are circulating about more surprise participants, such as Taylor Swift. However, Swift has yet to endorse the Democratic campaign publicly. 
Amid the Donald Trump campaign issue, all eyes are on Beyoncé as the legal scenario develops, wondering if she will move forward or if she will show up unexpectedly at the convention.