Copyright Lawsuit: Neil Young Sues Trump Committee for $10 Million
The musician claims his 1989 track was used without permission at recent midterm rallies, causing brand damage.
By Gavin Wilson ·
Rock music has long served as a backdrop for political energy, but a new legal battle has turned that background noise into a financial dispute. Neil Young filed a lawsuit on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against the Trump 47 Committee Inc. He is seeking $10 million in damages for alleged copyright infringement of his song "Rockin' in the Free World." The suit alleges the track was used as walk-up music at recent midterm election rallies without a license.
This is not the first time Young has taken legal action over this specific song. In 2020, he sued the corporation Donald J Trump for President Inc. That previous case ended in a settlement. According to the current filing, Trump’s organization promised it would never again use the song without a license and permission from Young. The new complaint argues that the continued use of the track during the 2026 midterm campaign cycle violated that agreement.
The lawsuit details the specific instances of unauthorized use. Lawyers for Young cite the playing of the song at a rally in Ohio on October 12. The filing states that the track has been played numerous times at other rallies designed to encourage Republican votes in the upcoming midterms. Young is also seeking an injunction to stop further public performances of the song at political events.
The legal team argues that the association between the song and Trump causes specific harm. The suit states that Young, a vocal critic of the president, has suffered damage to his reputation and brand. The document claims the public implication is that Young supports Donald J Trump in some way. Young’s lawyers describe the 1989 song as a blistering anthem that contrasts the hollow promises of American political rhetoric with the harsh realities faced by the poor and homeless.
The complaint outlines the thematic clash between the music and the political figure. It notes that the lyrics paint vivid street-level portraits of hardship, such as a mother discarding her baby and addicts lost in despair. The filing argues that the repeated chorus delivers a savage irony, celebrating freedom that is not shared by all. The lawyers conclude that the song is the opposite of everything that Donald J Trump stands for.
Young has maintained a visible anti-Trump stance in recent years. He has criticized the president in writings on his website and released a protest song titled "Big Crime" in 2025. The track includes lyrics about fascist rules and soldiers walking on the streets. The suit was filed while the Trump administration has not yet responded to the legal challenge.
The Trump presidency has recently increased its use of left-wing musicians' work for political purposes. In the past 12 months, the administration has used songs by Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and SZA to soundtrack clips about ICE or Iran strategy. Taylor Swift had her song "August" removed from a video celebrating the presidency in August. Young’s new filing adds to this pattern of copyright disputes between the White House and popular artists.
Source: The Guardian
