JMSN Sends Cease-and-Desist Over Trump Ad's 'Love Me' Use — SkimNews
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- JMSN (Christian Berishaj) sent a cease-and-desist letter to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Monday, objecting to the use of his song 'Love Me' in the ad titled 'The Country He Loves.'
- Attorney Norm Eisen of Democracy Defenders Action authored the letter, alleging the song was used without proper clearances and in violation of federal copyright law.
- The spot featuring Donald Trump was 'paid for by the U.S. government,' with AdImpact estimating $1.7 million spent running the ads over the past week, per NBC News.
- The White House describes the spots as public service announcements, while Democrats and even some Republicans contend they amount to campaign propaganda.
- JMSN stated on Instagram he 'would never authorize [his] music to be used for ANY political agenda or campaign,' and Eisen warned the unauthorized use could undermine the artist's perceived independence and integrity.
- A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment; Yashar Ali first reported on the cease-and-desist letter.
Why it matters: A taxpayer-funded ad carrying a $1.7 million price tag already invites partisan criticism; bolting on an unlicensed song adds a federal copyright exposure on top of the political optics. For working musicians, it crystallizes the question of whether the government can appropriate their work without permission even when the spending is framed as public service.
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