Warner Bros. Pictures is filing a copyright infringement complaint as part of an effort to have a video President Trump shared taken down.
The studio is taking the step because Trump used the instrumental track from the studio’s 2012 film, “The Dark Knight Rises,” when he posted a move-style trailer on Twitter today, Warner Bros. has confirmed.
Trump tweeted the two-minute clip with the accompanying message, “Make American Great Again!”
The clip, which closes with an image of a Trump campaign logo and “2020,” features numerous figures who have repeatedly criticized the president, including former President Obama, Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, comedians Amy Schumer and Rosie O’Donnell, and actor Bryan Cranston.
MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/diXWQHuyGj
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 9, 2019
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they call you racist,” blares a message at the beginning of the video.
The video later transitions to clips of Trump’s time in the White House, campaign rallies and his meetings with foreign leaders.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un – both authoritarian type leaders – are shown in the two-minute clip.
Social media users couldn’t help but ponder why, of all films to parody, his marketing team would choose recognizable music from a film in which a villain essentially holds the entire city of Gotham hostage as it descends into chaos.
It’s also unclear if Trump is meant to represent Bane or Batman, both of which categorically operate in full defiance of authorities.
How dare you use the dark Knight rises theme. You’re definatly more of a batman and Robin president. pic.twitter.com/iblcr80Uni
— I*Hate*Idiots (@Uno99491476) April 9, 2019
It’s not enough that Trump actually quoted Bane during his inauguration speech? Now he’s doing…THIS?! pic.twitter.com/yBknsHRu64
— hellresidentNY (@hellresidentNY) April 9, 2019
Trump’s using @HansZimmer‘s Batman music over one of his propaganda videos. pic.twitter.com/yyuQlrs2OJ
— La Marie ? (@FordMcCartney) April 9, 2019
Is that the theme song to The Dark Knight? Batman does not approve pic.twitter.com/TXAuUBTfMR
— Juan Gutierrez (@Jfgg81Juan) April 9, 2019
…wait, did they use the actual DARK KNIGHT music? https://t.co/yl0yqFiW3d
— Bob Chipman (@the_moviebob) April 9, 2019
Trump’s using Hans Zimmer’s Batman music over one of his stupid videos. pic.twitter.com/w0OQOSy5sg
— Paul Cornish (@PaulGCornish) April 9, 2019
The music in Trump latest propaganda video is from Hans Zimmer’s score for The Dark Knight Rises. Warner Bros. is filing a copyright infringement complaint to have the video taken down. ???#Maddow https://t.co/CNUdt8O9u2
— Polly Sigh (@dcpoll) April 10, 2019
And to top it off, Babyfingers and his equally moronic production people didn’t get permission from Warner Brothers to rip off the score from Dark Knight Rises…
…and now they’re being hit with a copyright infringement notice.
Sinister idiots. Vile tools. What a clown show.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) April 10, 2019
The video appears to be lifted from a YouTube video posted to a Reddit thread on /r/The_Donald.
The video by MateyProductions cites Zimmer’s score, but it’s unclear if permission to use it was obtained.