Neil Young files $10 million suit against Trump 47 Coalition

Neil Young is asking a federal court to order the Trump 47 Coalition to pay $10 million for using his song "Rockin’ in the Free World" at a recent political rally. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, argues that the track’s lyrics contradict the president's political identity.

Young’s team describes the song as a critique of American political rhetoric. The complaint states that the lyrics depict "a mother discarding her baby" and "addicts lost in despair." It argues that the repeated chorus creates a "savage irony" by celebrating freedom that is not shared by the poor and homeless. The filing concludes that the song is "the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for."

The core legal claim is copyright infringement. Young’s lawyers say the coalition played the track without obtaining the necessary license. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new filing.

This is the second time Young has taken legal action over this specific song. In 2020, he sued the Donald J. Trump for President group for a similar unlicensed use. According to the new filing, that earlier team "asserted no defense and immediately settled shortly after it was served." The 2020 settlement included a promise that the Trump campaign would never use the song again without permission.

Young has maintained a critical stance toward the administration in recent years. The dual citizen of the United States and Canada expressed concern last year that he might be barred from returning to the U.S. during his European tour. His legal dispute adds to a pattern of friction between the president and various musicians.

Trump has clashed with several high-profile artists in the entertainment industry. These disputes have involved Bruce Springsteen, Jack White, Sabrina Carpenter, and Olivia Rodrigo. The new lawsuit places Young at the center of another copyright battle involving the presidential campaign.