Linkin Park are joining the long list of musicians to call out Donald Trump over unfair use of music in his campaign promotions, after their song, In the End, was used in an unofficial pro-Trump clip retweeted by the President.
The clip has now since been deleted after copyright claims forced Twitter to take action.
Linkin Park issue cease and desist letter after President Trump retweets unofficial promo video which features their 2002 song, In the End.
On July 18, Twitter was forced to remove a campaign-style video featuring a cover of Linkin Park’s 2002 song, In the End, after copyright complaints. The now-deleted and since re-uploaded video ad was first posted by White House social media director Dan Scavino. President Trump retweeted the original to his 84 million Twitter followers.
Here you go Dan. pic.twitter.com/1bIAMth3jL
— ]intheMatrixxx[ (@intheMatrixxx) July 19, 2020
The American nu-metal band were made aware of the video and made a statement on Twitter stating, “Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music.” They firmly added that “a cease and desist has been issued.”
Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music. A cease and desist has been issued.
— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 19, 2020
Twitter removed the campaign video after the band’s management Machine Shop Entertainment filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act Notice.
Jung Youth, who is credited on the cover track as a feature artist, also took to Twitter to voice his disapproval of Trump’s campaign and the use of the track without permission, “anyone who knows me knows I stand firmly against bigotry and racism.”
Earlier today I found out that trump illegally used a cover song that I am part of in a propaganda video which he tweeted…anyone who knows me knows I stand firmly against bigotry and racism. Much love to everyone in the twitter community who helped get the video taken down fr!!
— JUNG YOUTH (@JUNGYOUTHmusic) July 19, 2020
In the End is a bit of a weird choice for the Trump campaign, with lyrics like “I’m surprised it got so far.” It’s almost like the late Chester Bennington is channelling the entire world’s disbelief of the President’s cookery since his inauguration in 2017.
Bennington, who died of suicide in 2017, was ironically a vocal critic of Trump. About six months before his death, the artist tweeted, “I repeat… Trump is a greater threat to the USA than terrorism!! We have to take back our voices and stand for what we believe in.”
I repeat….. Trump is a greater threat to the USA than terrorism!! We have to take back our voices and stand for what we believe in
— Chester Bennington (@ChesterBe) January 30, 2017
