Battle for Beyoncé: Trump tries to steal Harris’s campaign song – but could it backfire?
Stepping off his plane after touching down in Michigan, Donald Trump fist pumps the air to the soundtrack that has become Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign anthem:Freedom by Beyoncé.
In a possible attempt to parody – or troll – Harris, Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung posted a video on X of the former president arriving at his campaign rally to the backdrop of Beyoncé’s hit song from her 2016 album Lemonade.
Beyoncé fans were quick to slam the Trump campaign for copying the Democratic presidential rival.
“Freedom is a song written about slavery and police brutality against POC. How disgusting and despicable for any of you to use it to support that convicted felon,” one said.
Another wrote: “I know she didn’t green light this nonsense… I can’t wait until her legal team finds you”.
“You must be kidding, using the @Beyonce song of the Kamala campaign!? Stealing everything has consequences,” another said.
But Trump’s move could ultimately backfire if he didn’t get permission from the star first.
Freedom was adopted as the Harris campaign’s anthem last month, not long after the vice president stepped up to lead the Democratic party’s ticket.
Beyoncé gave Harris permission to use the song through to the November election, CNN reported.
The star, who publicly backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, is yet to officially endorse Harris or any candidate this time around.
Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff were gifted tickets to the Renaissance World Tour in Maryland by Beyoncé herself last year.
It is not clear if Trump sought permission from Beyoncé’s team to use the song – or if he could face legal repercussions if not.
There are a number of routes artists can go down for possible legal action