New York (AFP)

The heirs of the American singer Prince denounced the use of the song "Purple Rain" during a public meeting of Donald Trump in Minneapolis on Thursday night, recalling that the campaign team of the American president had committed not to s' to serve.

"President Trump played Prince Purple Rain + tonight at a campaign event in Minneapolis after confirming a year ago that the campaign team would no longer use Prince's music," wrote the rights holders of the artist on his Twitter account.

"Prince's heirs will never give permission to President Trump to use Prince songs," they added.

In support of their message, they published a copy of a letter signed by a lawyer stating that they represent Donald Trump.

"To avoid litigation, we are writing to confirm that the campaign team will no longer use Prince's music in its future activities," writes Jones Day's Megan Newton in a letter dated 15 October 2018.

Asked by AFP, the campaign team of Donald Trump and the lawyer did not respond immediately.

Prince's tube resonated Thursday in the Target Center, the Minneapolis Hall where Donald Trump was holding a rally, just minutes before the US president came on the scene.

Many artists, or their heirs, have already asked the former property developer not to use their music during public meetings.

The Rolling Stones, Adele, Neil Young, REM, Pharell Williams, Rihanna, Aerosmith and Queen also denounced the use of their works during Republican rallies.

US politicians can obtain licenses from copyright companies (such as Ascap) to exempt explicit singers or groups from permission.

During a Q & A session on Twitter, Mick Jagger, singer of the Rolling Stones, said that, despite his demands, campaign organizers Donald Trump could "broadcast what they wanted".

The music of the Rolling Stones was also played Thursday night in Minneapolis, several times, opening and closing the meeting.

Under US law, however, it is possible for an artist to request that his or her music not be used, claiming that the campaigners "misstated that the artist (...) supports the candidate", according to the American Association of the Record Industry (RIAA).

The American justice has not yet had to settle the issue since the beginning of Donald Trump's campaign in 2015.

© 2019 AFP