Leonard Cohen’s Estate Issues A Pre-Event Objection To Use Of ‘Hallelujah’ At Trump’s Freedom 250 Kickoff

It’s not at all uncommon for performers or their families to object when Donald Trump uses their music at a rally or video.

Their public pushback, though, usually happens after the fact.

But on Wednesday, the Leonard Cohen estate offered a prebuttal to the use of the song Hallelujah at Freedom 250‘s Great American State Fair kickoff on Wednesday evening, highlighted by a Trump rally.

“The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song ‘Hallelujah’ is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24,” the estate said in a statement earlier in the day. “This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage.”

As it turned out, the song was sung by Christopher Macchio and Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear, who appeared on the National Mall stage in the hour before Trump spoke.

A spokesperson for Freedom 250 did not immediately return a request for comment.

In 2020, Cohen’s estate said that they specifically declined the Republican National Committee’s request to use the song in the final night of the Republican National Convention, held at the White House, but it was played anyway. Macchio also sang the song then, from the White House balcony.

At Wednesday’s event, other performers included “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of Kash Patel. She sang the National Anthem. Lee Greenwood was expected to perform later in the evening.

The Great American State Fair was to feature a concert series, but after the event was announced, a number of artists dropped out, saying that they did not realize that Freedom 250 was backed by Trump. Although the group has said that it is non partisan, it was established in conjunction with the White House to host 250th anniversary events.

After performers like Morris Day, Young MC and The Commodores canceled their appearances, Trump said that he would hold a rally on the mall instead. He also is planning to hold a rally on July 4.

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy referenced the exodus of performers when he spoke to the crowd, telling them, “We have to give a big round of applause to our military band and singers — way better than those libtards that canceled on us.”