Donald Trump wanted Leonard Cohen's blessing. He didn't get it.
The Leonard Cohen Estate issued a statement via Rolling Stone making their position clear: Trump's use of 'Hallelujah' at Wednesday night's Freedom 250 rally in Washington, D.C. is not authorized, and they do not approve.
"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 posted to Cohen'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 their message with a reference to Trump's Truth Social catchphrase, signaling their displeasure.
This is not the first time Trump has used a Cohen song without approval. When the Trump campaign used a cover of 'Hallelujah' at the Republican National Convention in 2020, the estate objected, calling it a "brazen attempt to politicize and exploit" the classic. They suggested Trump use 'You Want It Darker' instead.
The Freedom 250 rally faced performer defections last month. Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC, The Commodores, and Morris Day all dropped out after learning about the organizers' ties to Trump. The concert series largely collapsed.
Trump's team brought in opera singer Christopher Macchio and country musician Lee Greenwood as replacements. Macchio was scheduled to perform "Nessun Dorma" and 'Hallelujah'—apparently without clearing the song with rights holders.
The estate's statement makes clear that Trump proceeded without permission. The Cohen legacy will not serve as a prop in his political theater.
