Leonard Cohen's Estate Issues Cease and Desist to Trump Over Song Use

 

The estate of legendary musician Leonard Cohen has sent a cease and desist order to Donald Trump following a recent campaign event where a recording of Rufus Wainwright performing Cohen’s iconic song “Hallelujah” was played. The song's use during the event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, has drawn criticism from Wainwright himself, who described it as “an anthem dedicated to peace, love, and acceptance of the truth.”

Wainwright expressed his dismay, stating, “Witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy. I’ve been supremely honored over the years to be connected with this ode to tolerance.” He further added that while he felt mortified by the situation, he hoped that Trump might find a moment of reflection through Cohen's poignant lyrics, though he admitted he was "not holding [his] breath."

During the town hall meeting, attendees were reported to require medical assistance due to high temperatures. In a light-hearted moment, Trump joked about the heat, suggesting it was a good opportunity to lose weight. The event included a variety of music, such as Luciano Pavarotti’s rendition of “Ave Maria,” Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain,” James Brown’s “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World,” the Village People’s “YMCA,” and Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

Trump later addressed the incident on Truth Social, claiming, “The Q&A was almost finished when people began fainting from the excitement and heat. We started playing music while we waited, and just kept it going. So different, but it ended up being a GREAT EVENING!”

Vice President Kamala Harris commented on a video of the event, expressing concern with the caption, “Hope he’s okay.”

It has become increasingly common for artists to oppose their music being played at Trump events. In August, Beyoncé blocked the use of her song “Freedom” after it appeared in a Trump campaign video, and earlier in the same month, the estate of Isaac Hayes contested the use of “Hold On, I’m Comin’.” Numerous other artists, including Rihanna and the Rolling Stones, have also spoken out against the use of their music at Trump rallies, leading to a dedicated Wikipedia page documenting these instances.

“Hallelujah” has gained a reputation as a modern pop standard since its initial release by Cohen in 1984, with many artists covering the song over the years. Jeff Buckley’s 1994 version is perhaps the most well-known, inspired by John Cale’s rendition from 1991, while Wainwright’s cover for the 2001 film Shrek further solidified its popularity. Other notable covers include those by Alexandra Burke, Bob Dylan, Bon Jovi, and Bono, highlighting the song's lasting impact and resonance across generations.