Queen’s Publishers Say Donald Trump Ignored Request to Stop Using ‘We Are the Champions’

A day after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump entered the Republican National Convention to the strains of Queen's "We Are the Champions," Sony/ATV Music Publishing, who control the rights to Queen's music has spoken out. In a statement, the company says that the usage of the song was unauthorized, and that they had previously tried to get him to stop, to no success.

“Sony/ATV Music Publishing has never been asked by Mr. Trump, the Trump campaign or the Trump Organization for permission to use 'We Are the Champions' by Queen," it read. "On behalf of the band, we are frustrated by the repeated unauthorized use of the song after a previous request to desist, which has obviously been ignored by Mr. Trump and his campaign."

"Queen does not want its music associated with any mainstream or political debate in any country," the statement continued. "Nor does Queen want 'We Are the Champions' to be used as an endorsement of Mr. Trump and the political views of the Republican Party. We trust, hope and expect that Mr. Trump and his campaign will respect these wishes moving forward.”

The words echo those written by Queen guitarist Brian May last month after fans had complained to him about Trump playing the record on the campaign trail. "It has always been against our policy to allow Queen music to be used as a political campaigning tool," he wrote. "Our music embodies our own dreams and beliefs, but it is for all who care to listen and enjoy."

Although May doesn't want Queen's music to be used for political purposes, he has been very active in Britain as a supporter of animal rights. In 2012, he split with his Conservative Party over a badger cull in Somerset and Gloucester. After a fight with the government that lasted longer than a year, the British government ended the practice.

Queen Albums Ranked Worst to Best