Musician Neil Young filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. district court for the eastern district of Virginia against Trump 47 Committee Inc., seeking $10 million in damages over the alleged copyright infringement of his 1989 song “Rockin’ in the Free World.” According to the complaint, the track was used as walk-up music at rallies held during midterm election campaigning.
This represents the second legal action Young has taken regarding the song’s use by Trump-affiliated entities. In 2020, Young sued Donald J Trump for President Inc. over similar unauthorized use. That case resulted in a settlement, with Trump’s organization agreeing not to use the song without a license and permission from Young.
The lawsuit contends that the continued use of the song has damaged Young’s reputation and brand due to the implication that he endorses Trump. Young’s legal team cited a rally in Ohio on 12 October as an example and stated the song has been performed “numerous times at other rallies designed to encourage Republican votes in the upcoming mid-term elections.” Young is also seeking an injunction to prevent future public performances of the track.
The suit includes detailed analysis of the song’s thematic content and messaging, characterizing it as a critique of political rhetoric that contrasts promises made by leaders with the struggles of vulnerable populations. Young’s attorneys argue the song’s values are fundamentally opposed to Trump’s platform. Young has been a vocal critic of Trump, having released a protest song titled “Big Crime” in 2025 and regularly publishing critical commentary on his website.
Trump’s administration has not yet responded to the lawsuit. The case comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and musicians, with reports of the presidency using songs by other artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, SZA, and Taylor Swift for campaign-related content and messaging.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI