Copyright Dispute: Neil Young Files Second $10 Million Lawsuit Against Trump 47 Committee
The musician alleges his 1989 track was used as walk-up music at midterm rallies despite a previous settlement with a different Trump campaign entity.
By Julian Schulz ·
Neil Young is seeking $10 million from Trump 47 Committee Inc, a new lawsuit filed Monday in the US district court for the eastern district of Virginia. The suit targets the political action committee for alleged copyright infringement of the 1989 song "Rockin' in the Free World," which served as walk-up music at recent midterm election rallies.
This marks the second time Young has litigated over the unlicensed use of the track. In 2020, he sued Donald J Trump for President Inc. That earlier dispute ended in a settlement where the former campaign promised it would never again use the song without a license and permission from the artist. The current filing argues that the 2026 usage by a different Trump organization violates that agreement.
The lawsuit claims the ongoing use of the anthem has damaged Young's reputation and brand. Because the musician is a vocal critic of the president, the suit states the association implies he supports Trump "in any way." Young's lawyers describe the 1989 composition as a "blistering anthem" that contrasts political rhetoric with the harsh realities faced by the poor, homeless, and forgotten.
The legal team emphasizes the thematic clash between the lyrics and the administration's platform. The filing notes that the song paints "vivid street-level portraits" of a mother discarding her baby and addicts lost in despair. It argues the track celebrates a freedom that is not shared by all, making it "the opposite of everything that Donald J Trump stands for."
Young has maintained a strong anti-Trump stance in recent years. He has criticized the administration in writings on his website and released the 2025 protest song "Big Crime." The song includes lyrics such as "Don't need no fascist rules" and "Got to get the fascists out." He is also seeking an injunction to stop further public performances of the track.
The dispute fits a wider pattern of tension between the White House and left-leaning musicians. Over the past year, the administration has used songs by artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and SZA in clips about ICE and Iran. In August, Taylor Swift had her track "August" removed from a video celebrating the presidency. Trump's administration has not yet responded to the new suit.
The lawsuit cites the song's performance at an October 12 rally in Ohio as a specific instance of infringement. It also notes the track was played "numerous times at other rallies designed to encourage Republican votes" in the upcoming midterms. Young's legal team is asking the court to order the committee to pay damages and cease all future public performances of the song.
Source: The Guardian
