In this here normal country called the United States of America, Donald Trump's social media director Dan Scavino tweeted out a campaign video for the 2020 election using a cover version of the Linkin Park song "In The End." You will be shocked, dear reader, to learn that the Trump campaign never bothered reaching out to Linkin Park to get permission to use their song. Our current President, breaking copyright law? Unheard of. This set off the fury of Trump's online support which lead me down a rabbit hole I regret going.
To start, Trump posted a video and it got pulled about 20 minutes later for a copyright violation, according to one tweeter.
That awkward moment when Linkin Park calls you out for copyright infringement 20 minutes after you post a campaign ad.
Imagine being busted for stealing LINKIN PARK songs. That’s like getting caught pirating Amazing Spider-Man 2 pic.twitter.com/cDEfUeQKFk
— Ryan Arey (@ryanarey) July 19, 2020
Linkin Park then issued a public statement noting "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." They weren't the first band to do this as artists like Neil Young, The Rolling Stones and Panic! at the Disco have sent similar cease and desist notices to the Trump campaign for using their music without permission.
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
And naturally, Linkin Park fans pointed out that Chester Bennington was very much not a Trump supporter. Shortly after Trump's inauguration in 2017, Bennington tweeted "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
At this point in the story, you would assume everybody just went on their merry way and moved on. Nope.
Trump supporters swarmed the replies of the Linkin Park post, claiming a wild conspiracy theory that Bennington was murdered for trying to stop sex trafficking. Then, these Twitter trolls started accusing Linkin Park themselves of being pedophiles based on logo similarities. Normal country.
https://twitter.com/CandaceM313/status/1284711927990583297
https://twitter.com/TruthHammer888/status/1284709215882235904
That’s weird ur lead singer was trying 2 expose pedophiles, because of abuse he suffered & was murdered by organised crime figures that protect pedophiles. Chesters songs often were about how helpless it feels 2B a child rape victim, POTUS chose that song 4 exactly that reason
— Sarita (@SimplySarita24) July 19, 2020
Interesting logo choice!! pic.twitter.com/bbSrobVxUP
— ????Free Your Mind???? (@2Afreedomrider) July 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/ttp13526/status/1284723371406528517
Exactly! RIP Chester & So many others ? pic.twitter.com/R7X9SlGy9R
— alicia reiner (@aliciareiner) July 19, 2020
https://twitter.com/maQi5er/status/1284708350630952960
