Musician Neil Young has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Donald Trump’s political action committee, alleging copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of his 1989 song "Rockin' in the Free World" at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio. The complaint, filed in federal court, states the song was played minutes before former NFL coach Jon Gruden introduced Trump at the event.
Young's lawsuit describes "Rockin' in the Free World" as an "anthem that contrasts the hollow promises of American political rhetoric with the harsh realities faced by the poor, homeless and forgotten." The complaint asserts that the song's message is "the opposite of everything that Donald J. Trump stands for."
This is not the first time Young has taken legal action against Trump over the song. In 2016, he sued Trump’s reelection campaign for using "Rockin' in the Free World" and another song, "Devil's Sidewalk," at various rallies. That lawsuit was later dismissed after the campaign agreed to a settlement that included a promise not to use the song again without a license and permission from Young.
Young has been a vocal critic of Trump and his policies for years. He has previously expressed his disapproval of the use of his music by the Trump campaign, stating in 2016 that he did not "endorse hate, bigotry, childish name calling, the superficiality of celebrity or ignorance." He also released a song titled "Big Crime" last year that appeared to criticize the president.