Neil Young Files $10 Million Suit Against Trump for Using ‘Rockin’ in the Free World,’ Six Years After a Prior Settlement Over the Same Song

Neil Young has filed a lawsuit against the Trump 47 Committee for $10 million in damages over the alleged unauthorized use of his song "Rockin' in the Free World" at a Trump campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio. The musician claims that the committee ignored a previous legal agreement not to play the song without obtaining a license.

This is not the first time Young has taken legal action against Trump; he previously sued the 2020 reelection campaign for using his music. The lawsuit argues that the song's themes of poverty, addiction, and social decay are starkly contrasting with Trump's political platform. Young filed the complaint in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, where the defendants typically have 21 days to respond.

The next step will likely involve the committee being formally served with the lawsuit. Young has continued to use "Rockin' in the Free World" at political events, including a recent performance with Willie Nelson and a performance at the Power to the People Festival. Not all artists are as dismissive of Trump as Young; Nicki Minaj joined him at a Michigan campaign rally, where he made complimentary remarks about her appearance.