The Leonard Cohen estate is objecting to President Donald J. Trump‘s promised — or threatened — use of the song “Hallelujah” ahead of Wednesday night’s Freedom 250 rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
“The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song ‘Hallelujah’ is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24,” says a posting 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.”
In a takeoff on Trump’s signature Truth Social sign-off, the Cohen estate’s statement concludes, “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Trump made a point of declaring nearly three weeks ago that “Hallelujah” would be sung at the event, at the same time he first announced that the kickoff to the Great American State Fair would feature as its big-name musical guests Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio, the latter of whom is scheduled to sing the oft-used and -abused Cohen classic.
Further headlines were made Tuesday when Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI director Kash Patel, announced on her social media that she had been booked to sing the National Anthem at the event, then immediately defended herself against critics, saying she was picked to perform “on my own accord” and not because of special connections.
