Neil Young Sues Trump Group for $10 Million

Neil Young is asking a federal court to order the Trump 47 Coalition to pay $10 million. The singer filed the lawsuit on Monday over the president's use of the song 'Rockin' in the Free World' at a recent rally.

The complaint states that Trump's team did not hold a license for the track. Young's legal team argues that the 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 suit describes the lyrics as vivid street-level portraits. These include a mother discarding her baby, addicts lost in despair, and garbage piling in the shadows of prosperity. The filing notes that the repeated chorus delivers a savage irony by celebrating freedom that is not shared by all.

Young's team concluded that the song is the opposite of everything Donald J. Trump stands for. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the new filing.

This is not the first legal dispute between the two. In 2020, Young sued the Donald J. Trump for President group over the same song. The new complaint states that Trump's team asserted no defense in that case and settled immediately after being served. They promised never to use the track again without permission.

Young is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. Last year, he voiced concern that the administration might bar him from returning to the country while he was on a European tour. Trump has also clashed with other musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Jack White, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo.