Neil Young sues Trump PAC over unauthorized use of ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ at a rally in Ohio. Source: rollingstone.com.
What Happened
The complaint says the group played ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ at a rally in Ohio without permission.
Young claims Trump personally knew a license was needed to play the song.
Young has not and would not grant a license for public performance, the filing states.
The use happened despite a 2020 settlement where Trump allegedly agreed not to use Young’s music without explicit permission.
Background: A Longstanding Tension
Young first objected in 2015 when Trump used the song at a campaign announcement.
At the time, a Young spokesperson said: ‘Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement.’
Young is a supporter of Bernie Sanders, according to that public statement.
In 2018, Young issued a public letter asking Trump to stop using the song.
He wrote: ‘I asked him then, in a widely shared, public letter to cease and desist.’
Trump did not respond. Young says Trump has ignored repeated calls to stop his aggressive and hateful rhetoric.
Why the Song Matters
‘Rockin’ in the Free World,’ released in 1989, is a powerful critique of political hypocrisy.
The lyrics show scenes of poverty: a mother discarding her baby, addicts in despair, garbage in the shadows of wealth.
The song’s chorus celebrates freedom — but Young calls it ‘savage irony,’ because freedom is not shared by all.
The song was named Rolling Stone’s best vintage rock song of 2026.
Young and his lawyers, Robert Besser and Scott Simmons, say it is ‘the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for.’
Responses and Next Steps
No response has been issued by the White House, the Trump 47 Committee, or the Republican National Committee.
The lawsuit does not claim any financial or reputational harm to Young.
It focuses only on unauthorized use of a copyrighted song in a political setting.
Rolling Stone obtained the five-page legal filing. It is the only source of the details in this report.
Sources & further reading
Featured image: Neil Young Sues Trump PAC for $10 Million Over Use of 'Rockin' in the Free World' at Rally. Via original publisher. Image source
