John Fogerty hits Trump with cease-and-desist order over ‘Fortunate Son’ song, Internet asks 'let's see your taxes'
Singer-songwriter John Fogerty has slammed US President Donald Trump for regularly using his song ‘Fortunate Son’ at his events and rallies and keeping in mind the same, the 75-year-old musician took to Twitter to issue a cease-and-desist order to Trump's campaign. The renowned musician did not post any caption for his tweet but posted a photo and a long post right beside it.
The photo in the Twitter post is of a man in uniform which is presumably his own portrait when he was drafted for the Vietnam War in 1966 and around the same time, he volunteered to serve, enlisting with the US Army Reserves as a supply clerk, as reported by the Insider.
Fogerty's cautionary letter to the Trump reads, “I object to the President using my song, ‘Fortunate Son’ in any way for his campaign. He is using my words and my voice to portray a message that I do not endorse. Therefore, I am issuing a ‘cease and desist’ order. I wrote this song because, as a veteran, I was disgusted that some people were allowed to be excluded from serving our country because they had access to political and financial privilege. I also wrote about wealthy people not paying their fair share of taxes.”
The rock icon added that “Mr. Trump is a prime example of both of these issues. The fact that Mr. Trump also fans the flames of hatred, racism and fear while rewriting recent history, is even more reason to be troubled by his use of my song.”
The news also created a storm on Twitter. One user said, “Wouldn't that be an insult to trump. So let's see your taxes” Another expressed, “Would you say that about biden too. He didnt serve and wsj stated he defrauded fica 500,000. Joe used his position who got his son into the reserves when he had a substance abuse problem and too old . Was kicked out failed drug test.” One Twitterati asserted, “Seriously has anyone who is critical of Mr Fogerty ever listened to this song? Ever looked at the lyrics? This is the anti Trump anthem! It also belongs to Mr Fogerty he should have the right to refuse Trump using it. Don’t worry MAGA u still have YMCA & Macho Man!” One Trump supporter added, “Did you know POTUS doesn't take a pay check? Did you know he is loosing money for being president? Why would he do it? He loves this country.”
Wouldn't that be an insult to trump . So let's see your taxes
— Dorothy hentschel (@Dorothyhentsch3) October 18, 2020
Would you say that about biden too. He didnt serve and wsj stated he defrauded fica 500,000. Joe used his position who got his son into the reserves when he had a substance abuse problem and too old . Was kicked out failed drug test.
— Dorothy hentschel (@Dorothyhentsch3) October 18, 2020
Seriously has anyone who is critical of Mr Fogerty ever listened to this song? Ever looked at the lyrics? This is the anti Trump anthem! It also belongs to Mr Fogerty he should have the right to refuse Trump using it. Don’t worry MAGA u still have YMCA & Macho Man!
— Pete Williams (@PeteWil52408518) October 18, 2020
Did you know POTUS doesn't take a pay check? Did you know he is loosing money for being president? Why would he do it? He loves this country.
— TA (@gi4usa) October 18, 2020
According to Rolling Stone, in Fogerty's cease-and-desist letter, a lawyer for Fogerty reportedly wrote to the Trump campaign that using the musician's songs at the president's events is “likely to cause confusion, mistake and deceive the public as to the affiliation, connection, sponsorship or association of President Trump by or with John Fogerty.” The letter also mentions, “We, therefore, demand that you expeditiously abstain from playing ‘Fortunate Son’ or any other song written by or connected with John Fogerty at any political campaign rallies or events, and promptly notify us that the demand has been met.” Rolling Stone also reported that the cease-and-desist letter from Fogerty claimed that the Trump campaign's use of ‘Fortunate Son’ was considered “trademark infringement, unfair competition, false designation of origin and false description.”
The Insider reports that last month, the co-founder of the band Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), had posted a video on Facebook where he explained his classic song ‘Fortunate Son’ and related it to Trump. “I find it confusing, I would say, that the president has chosen to use my song for his political rallies, when in fact it seems like he is probably the fortunate son.”
You can check out John Fogerty’s song ‘Fortunate Son’ right here: