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Leonard Cohen estate objects to Trump campaign's use of 'Hallelujah'

musicJun 25, 2026282,634

The Leonard Cohen Estate says it did not authorize use of 'Hallelujah' at Donald Trump's Freedom 250 rally and opposes the usage.

Khashoggi's Ghost
@urocklive1.bsky.social

"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." www.rawstory.com/trump-rally-...

139116h ago
Expatina31

The Leonard Cohen estate could give them permission to use "Everybody Knows" at the Trump rally. Here are just two verses of the scathing and brilliant masterpiece.

🥄Rutrow🥄 🇺🇦🇺🇸18

The bizarre thing is that christians think this is a hymn.

Rick Havoc18

Leonard Cohen knew. He died a day before the election in 2016.

Dave Tait16

Hmmmm... On the other hand: "She tied you to a kitchen chair. She broke your throne, and she cut your hair." Sounds like a plan...

rexdalish.bsky.social14

Which only serves to prove the fact that the R's never listen to, much less understand lyrics. Born in the USA being the best exemplar...

Nigel Tufnel9

Bet ya he does it anyway.

Nin7

At what point will he (and the rest of them) open their eyes and ears and realize that everyone just fucking hates them?

bshecks6

Never in a trillion years would I ever want that song associated with that piece of shit human.

Blue Gumby6

Estate should sue for a trillion dollars

LD1446

They performed it without permission anyway.

accidentalflyer 🇨🇦🇹🇼🇺🇸🇺🇦5

Not only Leonard Cohen was Canadian, the song was also rather sexual in nature. (Supposedly he wrote big part of it at the Royalton Hotel in Manhattan. Great lobby bar.)

Dee Chan4

Trump has done this to so many artists

yaycup.bsky.social3

I heard there was a secret bruise...

thisistoohard.bsky.social3

It's a kind of tortured song about sex. What message exactly are these weird people trying to send?

ThreadThoughtsKindness3

I'm just curious ... ... why do the MAGAts want to sing a song written by a CANADIAN? Just an FYI, y'all, but Leonard Cohen is from Montréal ... the very same municipality that just granted rights to TREES. That is so NOT MAGA. cc: @mark-carney.bsky.social @barackobama.bsky.social @pbsnews.org

Uniongrl ☮️ 🌍🎵🌻🦋2

That song is sacred! Especially Jeff Buckley's cover. This makes me angry. Doesn't his coalition of crap musicians have enough material? Vanilla Ice Travis Tritt Kanye Ted Nugent Big & Rich Lynyrd Skynyrd Etc.

Mary Torgersen 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇬🇪2

It would be heresy to perform that song at anything associated with Trump.

jamplainchic2

Have they actually listened to the lyrics? 😂

Monica
@softtail65.bsky.social

The Leonard Cohen Estate has issued a statement from his official social media pages about a trump rally's plan of unauthorized usage of his song, "Hallelujah."

35820h ago
Susan12

Well, looks like they are down to Lee Greenwood and Kid Rock. I hear Kash Patel’s girlfriend is going to perform…talk about desperation.

Albino Badguy9

Why is he even having a rally today?

CrazyCatsMom6

means go ahead. I'll sue. I'll win.

Mother Nature Strikes Back!6

He forces himself upon everyone and takes what he wants. Slow him down, stop him, sue him and whatever it takes to get this scourge out of our lives.

Maggie News5

I hope they sue him. Why would they want that song anyway?

Vickilou92 🫘🫛5

When the churchies get a hold of this song they just leave out the Bible stuff

Spoonbill Reducks5

That last sentence. *chef's kiss*

CatherineFromMA5

There needs to be stronger penalties for infringement, since Trump obviously does not care about the law...

tone curran5

(it's like leonard knew this might happen so he wrote a response:) leonard cohen 'diamonds in the mine' youtube.com/watch?v=9anY...

simplykimmie.bsky.social4

Don't let him ruin my most favorite song along with all the versions youtu.be/0bB5ReB4k6o?...

stevenmcp.bsky.social4

Gonna have to go back to the old standbys, like "God Bless The USA", "Bawitdaba" or "Redneck Paradise".

jerseyjohn1.bsky.social3

" Everybody Knows" is much more in tune with this administration

David3

Trump doesn’t care. He thinks he is above all else. cbwrong.blogspot.com/2026/06/why-...

Melissa Jo Peltier3

Cease & desist letter & preliminary lawsuit draft should shortly follow, IMO.

Super Joe Man3

He did the same thing with Crazy Train. But Sharon said "no, cease and desist," you racist fascist POS.

Mister McGibblets3

Everybody knows that it's now or never Everybody knows that it's me or you…

AdakWillie2

I do like this song but have never understood how/why it is force-fit into so many inappropriate settings starting with, I think, an episode of ER. Gotta listen to the lyrics, folks.

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