THE APEX TIMES
Leonard Cohen Estate Objects to Use of “Hallelujah” at Trump Rally, but Performance Goes Ahead
A Long Island opera singer and the U.S. Marine Band performed Leonard Cohen’s best-known song at President Donald Trump’s “Great American State Fair” rally after the Cohen estate raised objections.
A performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” proceeded at President Donald Trump’s “Great American State Fair” rally despite objections raised by Cohen’s estate, according to a report by Billboard on June 24, 2026.
Billboard reported that the Cohen estate objected to the use of the song in connection with the rally, while the event went forward with a version of “Hallelujah” performed by Christopher Macchio, a Long Island opera singer, alongside members of the U.S. Marine Band.
The report says Macchio joined forces with the Marine Band’s Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear to deliver the song, which has been covered widely since Cohen released it in 1984. Billboard also characterized the song as one of Cohen’s most frequently performed works.
Billboard’s account indicates that the estate’s complaint centered on the use of “Hallelujah” rather than the performers themselves. The report does not describe the legal mechanism used to raise the objection or whether any injunction or formal action was sought, and those details are not confirmed in the available record.
In the wake of the estate objection, the practical outcome described by Billboard was that the song was still performed at the rally, meaning audience members who attended the event heard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during the proceedings rather than an alternate selection.
The episode highlights how licensing and rights-management questions can intersect with political events, particularly when widely known works are used in public settings. It also underscores the potential for friction between an artist’s rights holders and the organizers of high-profile appearances that rely on recognizable cultural material.
Billboard did not provide additional details in the available report about the next steps for the parties involved, such as whether the estate pursued further proceedings after the performance or what licensing terms, if any, applied to the rally’s use of the song.
Why It Matters
- The incident raises questions about how copyrighted works by major recording artists are cleared for public, politically associated events.
- It illustrates the reputational and rights-management stakes for estates and rights holders when cultural works are used in widely attended national venues.
- The participation of a U.S. military band adds an additional institutional layer to the public-facing use of a well-known recording and its associated rights concerns.
- Because the report describes the objection but confirms the performance outcome, it may affect how organizers approach song selection, permissions, and timing for future large events.
Key Facts
- Leonard Cohen’s estate objected to the use of “Hallelujah” at President Donald Trump’s “Great American State Fair” rally, according to Billboard.
- Billboard reported that the song was still performed at the rally despite the estate’s objections.
- Christopher Macchio, described by Billboard as a Long Island opera singer, performed “Hallelujah” at the rally.
- Billboard reported that the performance included the U.S. Marine Band’s Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear.
- The Billboard report ties the performance to Cohen’s 1984 song, which has been heavily covered over time.