President Donald Trump is facing a $10 million lawsuit from rock icon Neil Young, who claims his music was used without permission at a recent campaign event. According to reports, Young alleges that Trump’s campaign continued using his songs despite repeated objections over the years.
Neil Young has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Donald Trump, alleging copyright infringement over the ongoing use of Young’s song “Rockin’ in the Free World” as the president’s walk-up music at midterm election rallies.
The suit says the classic 1989 song 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 lyrics pain 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. In short, the song is the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for.”
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— Variety (@Variety) October 26, 2026
The dispute centers on the use of Young’s music at political rallies and campaign appearances. Young has been one of several musicians who have publicly objected to their songs being associated with political campaigns they do not support. The lawsuit seeks damages and aims to prevent any future unauthorized use of the singer’s music.
