Neil Young sues Trump PAC for $10m over alleged unauthorized song use

Neil Young is suing Donald Trump’s political action committee for $10 million, claiming the president used his song "Rockin' in the Free World" as walk-up music at recent midterm election rallies without permission. The Guardian reported ^[1] that the lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, seeks reputational damages for the musician, who is a vocal critic of Trump.

This marks the second time Young has taken legal action over the track. According to the BBC ^[2], Young previously sued the organization "Donald J Trump for President Inc" in 2020. That case settled, with the Trump campaign promising never to use the song again without a license. The new suit alleges this agreement was broken when the song played at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12, and at numerous other events designed to boost Republican votes.

The filing describes the 1989 anthem as "the opposite of everything that Donald J Trump stands for," citing its lyrics about poverty and social inequality ^[3]. Young’s legal team argues that the continued use of the song implies he supports Trump, causing damage to his brand. They have requested an injunction to stop further public performances of the track for political purposes.

Young is not alone in fighting back against the administration’s use of their music. The Independent notes ^[3] that other artists, including The White Stripes and Abba, have filed complaints or demanded takedowns of videos featuring their songs. Recently, Taylor Swift had her track "August" removed from a Trump campaign video, while Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter have publicly condemned the use of their music in ICE propaganda clips.

Trump’s administration has not yet responded to the current lawsuit, according to NBC News ^[4]. Young, 80, has been increasingly critical of the president, releasing a protest song titled "Big Crime" in 2025. The suit underscores the growing tension between the entertainment industry and the Trump campaign, which has frequently used popular songs to soundtrack its political messaging.