Trump Campaign Hits Back at Foo Fighters

Says it had permission to play "My Hero"
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 27, 2024 12:30 AM CDT
Trump Campaign: We Had License to Play Foo Fighters Song
American band Foo Fighters performs on the Orange Stage at Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark Friday, July 5, 2024.   (Helle Arensbak/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

The Foo Fighters is one of a few musical acts unhappy with the Trump campaign using its songs, but the campaign is disputing the band's claim that Trump didn't have permission to do so. "We have a license to play the song," a campaign spokesperson tells the Hill of "My Hero," which was heard at the recent Arizona rally at which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Donald Trump for president. The Independent reports that outlet "has seen documents appearing to confirm that the campaign had indeed licensed the song from BMI's Songview service." Quoting several other Foo Fighters songs, the campaign rep posted on X, "It's Times Like These facts matter, don't be a Pretender."

Asked about the Trump campaign's comments, a Foo Fighters spokesperson simply reiterated the band's initial claim, stating, "Foo Fighters were not asked permission, and again, even if they had been they would not have granted it." Any royalties earned from the song will be donated to the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign, the rep says. Beyonce's team also recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign after the aforementioned spokesperson posted a video to social media showing Trump stepping off a plane as Beyonce's "Freedom" played. That post has since been deleted, Billboard reports. ("Freedom" has become the "anthem" of the Harris-Walz campaign.)

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