Rock ’n’ roll legend Neil Young is suing President Donald Trump for $10 million after the president’s team played one of his songs at a recent rally.
As Trump walked onto the stage at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, Ohio, on Oct. 12, Young’s song “Rockin’ in the Free World” played in the background.
Trump was not granted permission to play the song at the event, according to the copyright infringement lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Young is suing Trump 47 Committee Inc., the president’s joint fundraising committee.
“The Committee does not now have, and did not at the time of the Youngstown Rally or any other rally financed and conducted by the Committee, have a license or Young’s permission to play the Song at any public political event,” the suit states.
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Young claims the song was also played at other Trump rallies.
According to the court filings, Trump’s campaign knew it needed a license to play the song and knew Young would not permit it to use his music.
The song portrays the contrasts between the “promises of American political rhetoric” and the “harsh realities faced by the poor, homeless and forgotten,” the suit states.
“In short, the Song is the opposite of everything Donald J. Trump stands for.”
Young sued Donald J. Trump for President Inc. for copyright infringement in 2020 over “Rockin’ in the Free World” and “Devil’s Sidewalk.”
In that instance, the entity asserted no defense and quickly settled the suit, promising not to play the song again without a license and permission, according to the new lawsuit.
“The Committee has willfully proceeded to cause the Song to be played despite its lack of a license and despite its knowledge that a license is required to do so,” the lawsuit states.
The Washington Sun contacted the White House for comment.
Several other notable musicians have objected to the use of their music for Trump’s rallies. Others have also taken legal action against the president.
In 2024, the Trump campaign settled a lawsuit filed by “Electric Avenue” singer Eddy Grant after the song appeared in a social media post during the 2020 campaign.
The White Stripes sued the Trump campaign in 2024 after their song “Seven Nation Army” was also used in a social media video posted by campaign deputy director of communications Margo Martin.
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