Rock star Neil Young filed a $10 million lawsuit on Monday over President Donald Trump’s use of his song “Rockin’ in the Free World” at campaign events — the second time the artist has sued over Trump’s use of his music.
In the five-page filing, Young’s lawyers say the artist “has suffered damage to his reputation and brand as a result of the implication that he supports Donald J. Trump in any way.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Virginia against the Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising committee, alleging copyright infringement over president’s repeated use of his hit song, specifically mentioning an October rally in Ohio.
“Rockin’ in the Free World is a blistering anthem that contrasts the hollow promises of American political rhetoric with the harsh realities faced by the poor, homeless and forgotten,” the lawsuit says.
Monday’s lawsuit marks the latest instance of musicians condemning Trump’s use of their songs without their permission. Young has previously criticized the playing of his songs during the president’s political events, and he sued over Trump’s use of “Rockin’ in the Free World” and another song, “Devil’s Sidewalk,” in 2020. That lawsuit, filed against Trump presidential campaign, was settled shortly after it was filed, Young’s team said.
“Rockin’ in the Free World” offers a criticism of societal inequities, which Young’s team pointed out in the lawsuit.
“The lyrics paint vivid street-level portraits — a mother discarding her baby, addicts lost in despair, garbage piling in the shadows of prosperity — while the repeated chorus delivers a savage irony, celebrating freedom that clearly isn’t shared by all,” the lawsuit said. “In short, the Song is the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for.”
Reached for comment, the White House referred NBC News to the Republican National Committee. Neither a spokesperson for the RNC nor “Trump 47” immediately responded to a request for comment.
Several other artists have previously pushed back on Trump’s or the White House’s use of their music. After the White House used artist Kesha’s music in a military-themed social media post just weeks before the start of the Iran war, she said in a post that she did “NOT approve of my music being used to promote violence of any kind.”
Olivia Rodrigo also hit back at the Trump campaign for using her music in a video, writing in a post, “Ew don’t use my sound ever again ty.”
Last year, Sabrina Carpenter called a White House video on apparent immigration enforcement actions that used her music “evil and disgusting,” telling the White House, “Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
