Turns out it’s not such a free world after all.
First Neil Young took Donald Trump to task for using one of his hits without permission during his campaign announcement, and now the presidential candidate is fighting back, attacking both the Canadian’s songwriting skills and his integrity.
“@Neilyoung‘s song, “Rockin’ In The Free World” was just one of 10 songs used as background music. Didn’t love it anyway,” Trump tweeted on Wednesday.
He also posted a photo of himself shaking hands with Young, with the scathing caption: “For the nonbeliever, here is a photo of @Neilyoung in my office and his $$ request — total hypocrite.”
Next to the photo is a document signed by Young regarding a stock purchase agreement, with Trump claiming that the “Harvest Moon” singer recently asked him for money for “an audio deal.”
The standoff between the pair began with Young’s outrage over Trump’s unauthorized use of his 1989 anthem. “Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ in his presidential candidacy announcement,” Young’s management company told TheWrap in a statement earlier this month.
The management company added that Young, a Canadian citizen, “is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of The United States Of America.”
During his announcement at Trump Tower in New York, Trump vowed that he will be “the greatest jobs president that God ever created.
“I’ve employed tens of thousands of people over my lifetime,” he said. He also opined that “the American dream is dead, but if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger, better and stronger than ever before.”