Group Removes Ads After Copyright Dispute with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
The evangelical Christian group Evangelicals for America, previously known as Evangelicals for Harris, issued a public apology on Tuesday for using footage of the late Rev. Billy Graham in political advertisements supporting former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign. The group acknowledged that it did not obtain permission from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) before incorporating clips of the renowned evangelist into their ads.
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In a statement, Evangelicals for America explained that they believed their use of Rev. Graham’s clips fell under the Fair Use criteria of the U.S. Copyright Act. However, following objections from the BGEA, which claimed the group had infringed on its copyright by using the footage for political purposes without consent, the organization removed the ads and pledged not to repost them.
Infringing on BGEA Copyright
“Our intent was not to infringe on BGEA’s copyright or to give the impression that Rev. Graham would have taken a side in publicly supporting one political candidate over another in an election, so we apologize to BGEA,” the group stated. They further affirmed their commitment to ongoing dialogue with the BGEA, emphasizing that Rev. Graham’s ministry was focused on sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not engaging in partisan politics.
The controversy began when Evangelicals for Harris released a series of attack ads against former President Donald Trump, featuring clips of Billy Graham’s sermons juxtaposed with statements from Trump. One notable ad, part of a $1 million campaign targeting evangelical voters in swing states, highlighted Graham’s preaching about the need for repentance alongside a 2015 interview where Trump expressed uncertainty about ever seeking God’s forgiveness. Another ad, titled “Keep Clear,” quoted Graham’s sermon from 2 Timothy 3:1-5, warning against greed and arrogance, contrasted with Trump’s comments about being “greedy, greedy, greedy” and grabbing “all the money” he could.
Rev. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the BGEA and a vocal supporter of Trump, publicly criticized the ads in August 2024, calling them misleading. “The liberals are using anything and everything they can to promote candidate Harris. They even developed a political ad trying to use my father @BillyGraham’s image,” Graham wrote on X. “Maybe they don’t know that my father appreciated the conservative values and policies of President @realDonaldTrump in 2016, and if he were alive today, my father’s views and opinions would not have changed.”
Multiple Outreach Attempts Went Ignored Until After the Election
The BGEA sent multiple letters to Evangelicals for Harris, including a cease-and-desist letter in October 2024, threatening legal action over copyright infringement. Initially, the group defended their use of the footage, arguing it was essential to their First Amendment rights to critique Trump’s behavior in light of biblical values. However, after Harris’ electoral defeat and continued discussions with the BGEA, Evangelicals for America reversed course, issuing the apology and removing the ads.
“We have continued dialogue with BGEA since the election, and we affirm its position that Rev. Graham’s purpose was always clear: telling people about God’s Son, Jesus Christ,” the group said. They expressed hope that their actions would clarify any confusion caused by the ads and foster constructive Christian dialogue about political engagement.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association responded to the apology, stating to Fox News Digital, “Their apology speaks for itself, as does the original response from Franklin Graham. We are grateful for the outcome.”
Evangelicals for America, formerly Evangelicals for Harris, described their campaign (albeit misguided) as an effort to reach “politically homeless” Christians and encourage voting based on character and biblical values. The group reportedly spent over $1 million on ads targeting religious voters, arguing that Harris’ policies better reflected Christian principles compared to Trump’s.
