Donald Trump infuriated Neil Young by using three of his songs during his controversial visit to Mount Rushmore on Friday (July 3).
The musician also said that he “sympathizes” with Lakota Sioux, who has long claimed the land as his own.
Mount Rushmore is located in territory that was not defined in the Black Hills treaties from 1851 and 1868.
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Despite the protests that erupted before the president’s arrival, he continued the Independence Day event and used Young’s songs “Rockin ‘in the Free World” and “Like a Hurricane.”
“This is NOT okay with me …” wrote a tweet from Neil Young Archives along with images from the event.
He added in a follow-up post: “I stand in solidarity with the Lakota Sioux and this is NOT okay for me.”
Trump also played “Cowgirl in the Sand,” but Young has yet to comment on its use.
Young’s music, which called Trump a “disgrace to my country” in an open and scorching letter written in February, had already been used without his permission.
In 2015, he performed “Rockin ‘in the Free World” while announcing his presidential candidacy without seeking the musician’s permission.
“Donald Trump was not authorized to use ‘Rockin’ in the free world ‘in his announcement of the presidential candidacy,” an official statement from Young’s camp said to Hollywood reporter.
Before Trump’s arrival, the Ogala Sioux Tribal Council voted to ban the attendance of the President and Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem.
The tribe said the lack of government-to-government consultation on the event was a primary motivator for the vote.
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