Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, was widely criticized after she shared a new campaign video on social media in which she blows up a car labeled "socialism" and similarly destroys objects labeled "open borders," "Green New Deal," and "gun control" that Republicans have derided as items on progressive wishlists.
Greene's ad, which clocks in at two minutes and seventeen seconds, also angered fans of the band Linkin Park because it uses a reworked version of the group's hit song, "In the End."
You can watch Greene's ad below.
The song's inclusion hit a sore spot with fans because Linkin Park's late frontman, Chester Bennington, openly criticized former President Donald Trump, who counts Greene among his more faithful devotees.
In a January 2017 tweet issued shortly after Trump took the oath of office, Bennington referred to Trump as "a greater threat to the USA than terrorism."
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 (@Chester Bennington) 1485749075
Greene was swiftly mocked for her use of the band's music. Many also interpreted her ad as an explicit call for violence and suggested that she should be removed from the House of Representatives.
We need to do a Twitter campaign to Kevin McCarthy demanding censure or impeachment of Green.\n\nMarjorie Taylor Greene \u2018blows up socialism\u2019 in bizarre election advert using Linkin Park track https://www.indy100.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-election-advert\u00a0\u2026 #SmartNews— John F Kuyper (@John F Kuyper) 1647194564
America, show these people who you are!....and who you ARE NOT. Go out there, and vote, and remove those who use their position to spread nonsense and foolishness! Like her!!!https://www.indy100.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-election-advert\u00a0\u2026— Eddie O'Connor (@Eddie O'Connor) 1647184735
Marjorie Taylor Greene \u2018blows up socialism\u2019 in bizarre election advert using Linkin Park track #SmartNews\nThat\u2019s the trump way that mtg is following. They steal others work & don\u2019t pay or ask to use it. Why aren\u2019t they charged with theft after being warnedhttps://www.indy100.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-election-advert\u00a0\u2026— SueHierl (@SueHierl) 1647194108
Of course she didn\u2019t. \n\nShe\u2019s an entitled Karen of historic proportionshttps://twitter.com/reedgalen/status/1503004702182547456\u00a0\u2026— Donny Tromples (@Donny Tromples) 1647208401
@linkinpark wow. Please sue her.https://twitter.com/reedgalen/status/1503004702182547456\u00a0\u2026— MimiMagnolia \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@MimiMagnolia \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1647213233
Marjorie Taylor Greene \u2018blows up socialism\u2019 in bizarre election advert using Linkin Park track #SmartNews \u2066@RepMTG\u2069 you\u2019re a wacko. Time for you to be voted out or just removedhttps://www.indy100.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-election-advert\u00a0\u2026— Chris Zerbo (@Chris Zerbo) 1647183709
@linkinpark\nDid MTG bother to ask to use your music in her anti-semitic, anti-American video? \n\nPeople Can\u2019t Agree What\u2019s Most Bonkers About Marjorie Taylor Greene\u2019s New Adhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/marjorie-taylor-greene-ad_n_622c6949e4b06349371e4c42\u00a0\u2026— No Seditionists in Congress\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b! (@No Seditionists in Congress\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\udf3b!) 1647093852
\u2066@RepMTG\u2069 bastardized a Linkin Park track in her new ad! Wonder how \u2066@linkinpark\u2069 feels about that??https://www.indy100.com/politics/marjorie-taylor-greene-election-advert\u00a0\u2026— @UW_FL_lelone (@@UW_FL_lelone) 1647191096
While Linkin Park has not yet released an official statement addressing the matter, Greene's ad has already been pulled from many video platforms.
The band sent a cease and desist order to former President Trump in 2020 after Dan Scavino, then the White House social media director, used "In the End" without consent in a campaign video. The band filed a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice via Machine Shop Entertainment, its management company.
The band said in a statement at the time that it "did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music."
Trump's campaign was previously threatened with legal action by the Rolling Stones, as well as Neil Young and even the estate of the late Tom Petty, for continuing to use their music without their consent.
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