Last year, a group known as “Harris’ Evangelicals” aimed to undermine Donald Trump by leveraging the reputation of the renowned preacher Billy Graham.
This group, now called “American Evangelicals,” created an advertisement that mixes archival materials of Graham alongside footage of Trump. The ad sought to portray Trump as “greedy,” as well as “prideful, abusive, and violent.” It felt like an attempt to weaponize Graham’s legacy against the former president.
The advertisement concluded with Graham urging viewers to “please avoid such people.”
According to reports from Blaze News, this action placed Harris’ Evangelicals in legal jeopardy. The attorney for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) sent several letters to the group, including a cease-and-desist notification. BGEA criticized Harris’ Evangelicals for the unauthorized and political usage of their copyrighted video material.
Initially, the group expressed outrage at BGEA, claiming that they were trying to control the narrative around Graham’s image. They accused BGEA CEO Franklin Graham of silencing voices using what they termed the “Trump Playbook.”
Fast-forward ten months, and it appears that American Evangelicals have shifted their stance. Earlier this month, they issued a statement apologizing for their misuse of Graham’s footage and took down the ads.
The organization stated, “Our goal was never to violate BGEA’s copyright or to suggest that Rev. Graham supported a specific political candidate.” They also acknowledged ongoing discussions with BGEA, emphasizing that Graham’s messages were always centered around Jesus Christ and salvation.
Although it’s uncertain whether the ads had any real impact on voters, they collected around 30 million views before their removal.
Franklin Graham felt compelled to respond to this situation, asserting that not only did the group’s actions potentially violate copyright laws, but they also misused his father’s legacy. “The left utilizes everything at their disposal to promote candidate Harris,” he remarked last year. He added, “They are misleading the public,” while reaffirming that his father would have appreciated Trump’s conservative values.
BGEA commented that the apology from American Evangelicals “speaks volumes.” They expressed gratitude for the resolution, highlighting a sense of closure in the controversial matter.
