Donald Trump has commented on Neil Young multiple times over the years with a mix of admiration and criticism. Trump has acknowledged being a big fan of Neil Young and attended his concerts multiple times, calling him a "terrific guy" and praising his music as "very special" and "fantastic" in interviews from years ago. However, their relationship soured after Trump used Young's song "Rockin' in the Free World" at his campaign announcement rallies without permission, which Young criticized strongly and did not support Trump politically. Trump responded by calling Neil Young a "total hypocrite" on Twitter, citing a past meeting where Young sought money for a project from Trump's office and mentioning that Young had invited him to a concert. Trump downplayed the unauthorized use of the song as just background music at rallies and said he "didn't care for it anyway".

More recently in 2025, Neil Young released a protest song titled "Big Crime" that contains critical references to Trump and his administration, including lines about "big crime in D.C. at the White House" and opposition to "fascist rules." Young has openly criticized Trump’s policies and called for removing fascists from power. Trump, despite the criticism, has maintained his previous admiration for Young's music from years prior.

In summary, Trump has expressed that he was once a fan of Neil Young and has defended the use of Young's music in his campaigns, while also firing back at Young's critiques by calling him a hypocrite. Neil Young, on the other hand, has been a vocal critic of Trump through his music and public statements.