Neil Young Smacks Down Trump Again With $10M Lawsuit

Rock star Neil Young has filed a second $10 million lawsuit against Donald Trump for playing his hit song at a political rally. The suit claims the campaign violated a previous agreement that stopped them from using the track in 2020. This is not a new dispute but a repeat offense that Young says costs him his reputation. The filing alleges the song is the opposite of everything Donald J. Trump stands for.

Young’s team says the song was played just before Trump took the stage in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12. The complaint states the Committee caused “Rockin’ in the Free World” to be played right before the speech. Young’s lawyers argue this act implies he supports Trump, which damages his brand. NBC News reported that Young’s lawyers say the artist “has suffered damage to his reputation and brand as a result of the implication that he supports Donald J. Trump in any way.” The lawsuit targets the Trump 47 Committee, a joint fundraising group.

The 2020 Settlement Break

This is the second time Young has taken legal action over this specific song. In 2020, he sued the Trump campaign for using “Rockin’ in the Free World” and another track called “Devil’s Sidewalk.” That earlier case ended quickly when the campaign agreed to stop using the music. According to the Washington Examiner, Trump’s 2020 campaign “asserted no defense and immediately settled shortly after it was served.” The settlement required the group to get a license and permission before playing the song again. Young now claims they broke that promise.

The complaint argues that Trump and his team knew a license was needed and that Young would never give permission. Young’s lawyers describe the song as a “blistering anthem” that contrasts political promises with the harsh reality for the poor. The filing states: “Rockin’ in the Free World 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 paint a grim picture of a mother discarding a baby and addicts lost in despair. Breitbart noted the complaint says the chorus delivers a “savage irony” by celebrating freedom that is not shared by all.

Why the Money Matters

Young is asking for $10 million in damages to cover the harm done to his image. The suit claims the campaign played the song at other rallies too, not just the one in Ohio. The filing asserts: “On information and belief, the Committee has caused the Song to be played numerous times at other rallies designed to encourage Republican votes in the upcoming mid-term elections.” The Washington Times reported that Young is suing for the unauthorized use of the 1989 rock anthem. The complaint insists the song is “the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for.”

Young is 80 years old and has a history of standing by his principles. He has sued before and won a quick settlement. Now he wants the court to enforce that deal and make the campaign pay for breaking it. The Washington Examiner reported that the complaint says the lyrics show “garbage piling in the shadows of prosperity.” This legal battle puts the focus on who owns a song and what it means to use it against the artist’s wishes.

The Next Legal Step

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Virginia on Monday. It names the Trump 47 Committee as the defendant for copyright infringement. The case will now move through the legal system to see if the 2020 settlement was truly violated. Young alleges that the campaign knew the rules and chose to ignore them anyway. The complaint claims the song is “the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for” and that the use was intentional.

This case shows that artists still have power to stop campaigns from using their work without a deal. The court must decide if the settlement from four years ago still holds up today. If the campaign played the song again, they broke a promise. The final outcome will determine if $10 million is the right price for that broken promise. The court will now review the facts to see if the settlement was indeed violated.

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