BALTIMORE—Threatening important authorized penalties if the marketing campaign didn’t heed its warnings, the Francis Scott Key property despatched a cease-and-desist letter to Donald Trump on Friday that demanded he discontinue use of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at his rallies. “This unauthorized political utilization is in clear violation of what Francis stood for and the whole lot his track means,” wrote Kara Winstone-Key, great-great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of the lyricist, poet, and lawyer, casting doubt on whether or not the previous president even knew the which means of broad stripes and vibrant stars gallantly waving o’er ramparts. “We’re asking Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign to instantly halt this inappropriate use of our ancestor’s masterwork. Frankly, we didn’t grant Ms. Harris license to make use of this track both, nor has the White Home ever reached out to dealer a deal that might sanction its prolonged historical past of utilizing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ to go well with its personal functions. That is our remaining request. If Mr. Trump doesn’t take fast motion, we are going to see him in courtroom.” The property went on to warn that it had already been awarded hundreds of thousands from MLB for the sports activities league’s centuries-long exploitation of the anthem.
