CHARISMA MADARANG , Rolling Stone; LEONARD COHEN ESTATE DOES NOT SUPPORT TRUMP’S PLAN TO USE ‘HALLELUJAH’ AT FREEDOM 250 RALLY
"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.”"
