Neil Young OK With Donald Trump Using His Music: “I Got Nothing Against Him”
Normally when right-leaning politicians use the music of left-leaning musicians at political rallies, the musicians protest heavily. Donald Trump, for instance, has drawn the ire of Adele, Aerosmith, House Of Pain, and especially R.E.M. throughout his presidential campaign. So it was not surprising that noted Bernie Sanders supporter Neil Young complained when Trump played “Rockin’ In The Free World” at his campaign launch event. Conversely, it’s extremely surprising that about a year later, Young no longer seems to mind.
In a new interview with Reuters, Young says Trump got a legal license to use “Rockin’ In The Free World” and there’s nothing Young can do about it, but he appreciates that Trump stopped using the song when he asked. Young also apparently has decided to let it slide that Trump called him “a total hypocrite” when this all went down last June. The Canadian rock legend actually seems extremely chill about the whole ordeal, noting, “I got nothing against him.” Here’s an extended quote:
[Trump] actually got a license to use it. I mean, he said he did and I believe him. So I got nothing against him. You know, once the music goes out, everybody can use it for anything. But if the artist who made it is saying you never spoke to them, if that means something to you, you probably will stop playing it. And it meant something to Donald and he stopped.
Read the full interview and watch video here.