In the run -up to Donald Trump’s military “birthday parade”, the organizers offered $ 750, to use a famous ballad at the celebration of the US Army.
Lawyer: “Illegal use despite explicit cancellation”
When the tank-heavy parade moved through Washington, DC, the hit from the 1960s sounded “He ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” loudly in the capital and delivered the soundtrack for the 250th anniversary of the US Army-and at the same time to Trump’s birthday party. The song was so present that it was even played with the final fireworks.
There is a problem. According to a new injunctive relief viewed by Rolling Stone, the organizers of the parade were expressly informed that they had no approval to use the song. They would have recognized this – and according to the writing, they still “illegally” used it for Trump’s festivity.
The letter, dated June 27, comes from lawyer Paul Millman, who represents Amber Leigh Music Inc. Amber Scott is the daughter of the late Bobby Scott, who composed “He ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”. It says that the parade organizers had failed to obtain Scott’s permission-and were rejected in writing by the Wise Music Group, which represents the interests of the co-author Bob Russell.
“Two -time copyright infringement in worldwide live broadcast”
The legal warning is addressed to Suzi Barry, Senior Director of Clearance Operations at EMG Inc., which worked as a subcontractor for America250 – the non -profit organization that co -organized the parade. Copies went to the Wise Music Group, Trump’s Weißes-Haus consultant David Warrington and America250-an officially non-partisan, but increasingly Maga-shaped initiative.
“On June 14, 2025, the work was listed twice – without a license – during the America250 final on the National Mall,” the letter said. “This event was transferred nationwide on television, streamed worldwide and distributed on social media. According to 17 USC §106, your company and/or your clients committed at least two separate violations: (1) You never caught up the necessary approval of Amber Leigh Music; and (2) On June 10, 2025 at 9:18 a.m. confirmed this rejection at 5:11 p.m. PDT the same day. “
Rolling Stone has viewed written correspondences that confirm these details.
The parade in Washington was officially declared the 250th anniversary of the US Army. Originally, however, no militarily charged parade – a rare practice in the United States, but widespread in the United States – was planned until Trump was back in power. As Rolling Stone already reported, the President insisted that the celebration would fall for his birthday – which caused some government officials to call them “Donald Trump’s birthday parade”.
Companies such as Amazon, Lockheed and Palantir sponsored parade
The event in mid-June coincided with nationwide anti-trump protests under the motto “No Kings” and is part of the comprehensive measures of the second Trump government, which use at least one billion dollar tax money-primarily to celebrate Trump himself.
For many it was clear: this parade was not an apolitical troop festival, but a politicized show in honor of Trump. Numerous speakers congratulated him publicly on his birthday, and Trump himself gave a speech -like speech. The sponsors of America250 included armaments group Lockheed Martin, crypto exchange Coinbase, online retailer Amazon and surveillance technology provider Palantir.
Daughter of the composer: “Not in the background – but finals!”
“Obviously, the main problem is unauthorized use,” Scott told Rolling Stone. “My father was a great supporter of our military and all those who sacrificed our country. Many of his songs – like ‘That’s where my Brother Sleeps’ and ‘This Is My Country’ – reflect this love. Due to the prominent sponsors, timing and the overall staging, many asked the question: Was that really a non -partisan event?”
Scott continued: “My father’s song was played live at the fireworks final. It was not a casual effort as background music to passing tanks. The organizers seem to have found the song so significantly that they specifically – and without permission – installed it into the final.”
America250, Warrington and spokesman for the White House, EMG and the Wise Music Group initially did not respond to inquiries about the statement.
The organizer’s website warns of copyright infringement
The letter of injunctive relief describes the situation as “deeply ironic”, since Emg’s own website (www.clearance.com) prominently warns against using copyright -protected material without permission (“Use a Note. Go to Jail”, stands there). And further: “Despite the facts mentioned above, the work was illegally used – live and in the transmission.”
In addition, reference is made to California Senator Alex Padilla, who belongs to the management of America250 and defends public art rights. He recently brought the “American Music Fairness Act”. A law that is intended to ensure that artists are paid for the use of their works.
Padilla, a democratic senator, recently called Trump a “tyrant” after he was violently brought to the ground at an event. While he wanted to ask Homeland Protection Minister Kristi Noem.
Trump-Youtube continues to show video with the song
At the time of the article, a video of the parade from June 14th can be found on Trump’s YouTube channel. With clearly audible Scott song.
The letter warns. “According to 17 USC §§ 106, 501 & 504 (2) (2), this intentional, knowingly committed violation can lead to legal claims for compensation of up to $ 150,000 per work.
Among other things, Scott and her lawyer call for the “complete removal of all public videos and summaries” that contain the song. As well as the “securing of all documents, CUE sheets and recordings related to June 14th.” Term: June 30th, 5:00 p.m. After that, legal steps will be checked.
Trump’s decades of argument with musicians about song use
Trump and partly world -famous musicians have been fighting for the unauthorized use of their songs at Trump’s events for almost a decade. In some cases, Trump simply refused to break down the music. Artists and their lawyers had to use creative means. For example the Rolling Stones.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump used the Stones hit “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” as a political leitmotif. The band protested immediately. Guitarist Keith Richards started on a table with a knife in the 1980s to let Trump throw out at a concert.
BMI legal schedule forced Trump 2020 to change the song
Trump continued to use the song for years. By 2020. The Stones, together with the rights organization BMI, developed a legal plan that finally forced Trump to give in.
Since then, the disco song “YMCA” from the Village People has been the new hymn of the Maga movement.