Leonard Cohen’s Estate has slammed Donald Trump for using the late star’s song Hallelujah at a rally without consent.
The music legend’s folk staple was used during a B-2 Bomber fly-over at the Great American State Fair on Tuesday (24.06.26), marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
In response, his estate said on social media: “The Leonard Cohen Estate has learned that the song Hallelujah is to be performed at a Donald Trump rally on June 24.
“This use is not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
In 2024, Rufus Wainwright’s cover of Hallelujah was used at a rally without permission.
He hit back at the time: “The song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth.
“I’ve been supremely honored over the years to be connected with this ode to tolerance. Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy.”
Countless musicians have had their music used by Trump’s administration without authorisation.
Ariana Grande recently slammed the president after her song Bye was used as the soundtrack to a TikTok video promoting US immigration arrests.
The clip, posted earlier this month, showed ICE agents detaining and handcuffing people while Ariana’s track played underneath.
The caption read: “Bye-bye. President Trump has delivered the most secure border in history.”
Ariana fired back in a since-deleted comment, writing: “Please do not ever use my music in relation to this barbaric, inhumane, heinous nonsense. F*** ICE.”
Her team later confirmed to Variety that the comment was genuine, though it no longer appears publicly.
The TikTok’s audio was also muted, with the platform now displaying: “This sound isn’t available.”
A White House spokesperson defended the video, saying: “What’s actually barbaric, inhumane, and heinous are the criminal illegal aliens who have injured and murdered innocent American citizens.”
