The estate of legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has publicly condemned the unauthorized use of his iconic song “Hallelujah” at a Donald Trump rally, despite efforts to prevent the performance from taking place.
On June 24, the official Instagram account of the Leonard Cohen Estate issued a statement revealing that it had learned Hallelujah was scheduled to be performed during Trump’s appearance at the Great American State Fair, an event held as part of the Freedom 250 celebrations.
“The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song ‘Hallelujah’ is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24,” the statement read. “This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage.”
Despite the estate’s objections, footage from the event later confirmed that Hallelujah was performed anyway. According to Billboard, Long Island opera singer Christopher Macchio joined Marine Band Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear for a rendition of the beloved classic.
A Familiar Dispute
This is not the first time Cohen’s estate has objected to the political use of the song.
In 2020, the estate criticized the Republican National Convention after Tori Kelly’s version of Hallelujah was played twice following Trump’s speech. At the time, representatives for the estate said they were “exploring our legal options” after learning that the RNC had moved forward despite being denied permission to use the song.
“We are surprised and dismayed that the RNC would proceed knowing that the Cohen Estate had specifically declined the RNC’s use request,” the estate said in a statement.
They also described the incident as a “rather brazen attempt to politicize and exploit in such an egregious manner ‘Hallelujah,’ one of the most important songs in the Cohen song catalogue.”
Great American State Fair Faces Artist Boycotts
The controversy surrounding the event extends beyond the use of Cohen’s music. The Great American State Fair has faced mounting criticism over its ties to the White House and the Trump administration, prompting several scheduled performers to withdraw.
Among the artists who pulled out of the 16-day event were Bret Michaels, Morris Day, Young MC, The Commodores, Martina McBride, and Milli Vanilli.
Explaining his decision, Bret Michaels said:
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of.”
With multiple performers withdrawing, Trump ultimately took the stage on June 24 to headline the event with a political rally.
The incident once again highlights the ongoing tensions between artists, their estates, and political campaigns over the unauthorized use of music at public events—a legal and ethical issue that has repeatedly surfaced during election cycles.