Donald Trump: 'I Love Neil Young. And He Loves Me!'

Most candidates stride to their inaugural campaign stage with a touch of humility, surrounded by regular folk standing in for the great American heartland. But Donald Trump found a way of performatively escalatoring to his official announcement Tuesday, as light beamed down to the ground floor of his trophy tower. Thumbs-ups were interspersed. Big news was coming, and the music had to fit the mood. From loudspeakers on high came the song. “Rockin’ in the Free World,” by Neil Young. Fitting, from a man whose biography on his corporate website describes him as “the very definition of the American success story.” Free world indeed.

Except on Tuesday afternoon, Neil Young’s longtime manager, Elliot Roberts, said in a statement to Mother Jones that Young had not authorized use of the song. Roberts wrote, “Mr. Young is a longtime supporter of Bernie Sanders.” A statement from another Young representative, Rick Gershon, said, “Donald Trump was not authorized to use Rockin' In The Free World in his presidential candidacy announcement. Neil Young, a Canadian citizen, is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.” Many laughed “Neil Young Wants Nothing To Do With Donald Trump,” read a headline on Gossip Bucket.