Rufus Wainwright has denounced former President Donald J. Trump for playing his “Hallelujah” cover at a bizarre rally in Oaks, Pennsylvania, last night, in which the Republican presidential candidate cut short his remarks and danced for half an hour as songs played on the sound system. Wainwright, who backs Trump’s Democratic rival for the presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris, called the song’s co-option by Trump and his supporters “the height of blasphemy.”
Leonard Cohen’s song, said Wainwright in a statement, “has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth.” He continued, “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. Of course, I in no way condone this and was mortified, but the good in me hopes that perhaps in inhabiting and really listening to the lyrics of Cohen’s masterpiece, Donald Trump just might experience a hint of remorse over what he’s caused. I’m not holding my breath.”
Wainwright’s statement notes that the publishing company for Leonard Cohen’s estate has sent the Trump campaign a cease and desist letter. Other songs played during last night’s rally—which took the strange turn after two attendees passed out, apparently due to the heat—included the cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” by Sinead O’Connor, whose estate has called Trump a “Biblical devil,” and “Memory” from the Cats musical.
