Leonard Cohen’s estate made it clear that it has not authorized President Donald Trump’s plan to use Cohen’s famed song “Hallelujah” at his Freedom 250 rally on Wednesday night.
“The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song ‘Hallelujah’ is to be
performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24,” read a statement posted on the late singer’s social media. “This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage.”
The estate ended its message with a jab at Trump’s Truth Social catchphrase: “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Cohen’s estate has criticized Trump’s use of the oft-covered classic before. When Trump’s campaign used a cover of Cohen’s song at the Republican National Convention in 2020, the estate said it was “dismayed that the RNC would proceed knowing that the Cohen Estate had specifically declined the RNC’s use request, and their rather brazen attempt to politicize and exploit in such an egregious manner ‘Hallelujah.'” Instead, the estate suggested Trump’s campaign request Cohen’s “You Want it Darker.”
Last month, a slew of artists — including Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC, The Commodores, and Morris Day — dropped out of the Freedom 250 concert series upon learning about organizers’ ties to Trump. Following the event’s public implosion, Trump announced the rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C, would instead feature Eighties country singer Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio, who would perform a number of song including “Nessun Dorma” and “Hallelujah.”
Trump also recently declared that this year’s July Fourth celebrations — marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding — would be headlined by yet another Trump rally.
“On July 4th, at The Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, in beautiful and safe Washington D.C., we are going to host the most spectacular TRUMP RALLY of them all,” Trump wrote on Truth Social the morning after throwing himself a $60 million dollar UFC birthday party at the White House.
“More than 300 Members of our strong and talented Military Bands, Orchestras, and Ceremonial Units, will perform Patriotic Melodies and American Classics, and my Playlist (We will have none of those people that put you to sleep and constantly complain!), as we celebrate our Country,” he added. “I will deliver keynote remarks that you will not want to miss.”
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