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Trump cuts short his town hall Q&A in favor of songs from rally playlist
Former President Donald Trump‘s town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles outside Philadelphia, was abruptly cut short on Monday evening after two attendees needed medical attention, and then took an unusual turn after they were taken from the venue.
Trump was fielding questions from voters, with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem moderating, when a man in the crowd apparently fainted about 30 minutes into the session.
“That looks a little bit bad,” Trump said as a stretcher was brought into the site.
While the man was being treated, the Q&A stopped, and during the pause, Trump asked his staff backstage to “work quickly” and play “Ave Maria” — one of his favorite songs. The crowd also sang “God Bless America” a capella.
Soon after the man was taken out of the venue, Trump began answering a question on immigration when another medical incident interrupted the town hall.
“Ave Maria” came back on as event staffers made their way to the individual. Trump then requested a different version of “Ave Maria,” sung by Luciano Pavarotti, a favorite artist of his.
The former president then decided to preempt the remainder of the town hall.
“Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music,” Trump said, offering as an explanation for the change in plans, “Who the hell wants to hear questions, right?”
Several songs off of the former president’s playlist played for the next 40 minutes, including “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown as Trump and Noem stood on stage, and Trump swayed to the music while Noem smiled and clapped.
“An American Trilogy” by Elvis Presley and “Nothing Compares 2 U,” by the late Sinead O’Connor — two of his favorite songs — filled the room as Trump and Noem periodically half-danced and listened to the playlist. A panel of supporters that was also standing behind them on stage. O’Connor’s estate previously requested that Trump stop playing the song at his campaign events.
The Trump campaign Twitter account said that the former president “turned this town hall into a concert.”
“Something very special is happening in Pennsylvania right now at the Trump townhall,” Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X. “@realDonaldTrump is unlike any politician in history, and it’s great.”
Trump departed the stage to “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses and glad-handed with voters who stayed throughout the duration of Trump’s playlist as “Memory” from the musical “Cats” played.
Harris’ campaign account posted on social media about the town hall that the former president “acted confused when asked if they should end the event and play a walk off song” and showed video from the event. Harris posted on X, “Hope he’s okay.”
Monday’s town hall comes on the heels of Trump’s refusal over the weekend to release his medical records after Vice President Kamala Harris released hers. After the town hall, Trump posted on Truth Social about Harris’ medical records, writing, “As to her completely desperate request for my Medical Statements, she is dying to see my Cholesterol (which is 180!), I have already provided them, many times, including quite recently, and they were flawless.”
Trump is set to return to the campaign trail on Tuesday, with stops in Chicago and the crucial battleground state of Georgia.
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Trump campaign’s use of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is “blasphemy,” singer Rufus Wainwright says
On Monday, Donald Trump turned a town hall Q&A into a music-listening session, with the former president swaying on stage for more than 30 minutes to some of his favorite songs — including Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” as covered by the singer Rufus Wainwright in the film “Shrek.”
Now, Wainwright and Cohen’s estate are taking issue with Trump’s use of the song, with Wainwright writing on social media that “witnessing Trump and his supporters commune with this music last night was the height of blasphemy.”
The publishing company for Cohen’s estate has sent a cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign, Wainwright said. Cohen, who died in 2016 at the age of 82, originally released the song in 1984, with many musicians later covering it, including Wainwright and the late Jeff Buckley.
The Trump campaign and representatives for Wainwright and Cohen’s estate didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The spat over “Hallelujah” marks the latest tussle between musicians and the Trump campaign, which has repeatedly been asked to stop playing songs by artists ranging from Celine Dion to Queen. Some of the artists said they are opposed to their music accompanying any type of political event, while others, like Wainwright, have been more pointed in linking their music to Trump.
“The song ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen has become an anthem dedicated to peace, love and acceptance of the truth,” Wainwright wrote on Tuesday.
He added that he was “mortified” that the song was played at the Trump event, adding that “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.”
Wainwright added that he is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.
Trump played several other recordings at the town hall event in Oaks, Pennsylvania, about 20 miles outside Philadelphia, after two attendees needed medical attention. Those songs included “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown, “An American Trilogy” by Elvis Presley and “Nothing Compares 2 U,” by the late Sinead O’Connor.
Musicians who have objected to Trump using their music
Wainwright joins a long list of other musicians who have asked the Trump campaign to stop using their songs. Some of the recent cases include:
- Celine Dion, whose representatives in August told Trump that his use of her 1990s song “My Heart Will Go On” was “unauthorized” and had not received her permission.
- The Foo Fighters, who in August objected to Trump playing the band’s “My Hero” when he welcomed former independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the stage at an Arizona rally. The Foo Fighters said they hadn’t given permission for the use of the song, and that any royalties received as a result of the Trump campaign’s use of the song would be donated to Harris’ campaign.
- Isaac Hayes, with a federal judge in Atlanta ruling last month that Trump and his campaign must stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” while the family of one of the song’s co-writers pursues a lawsuit against the former president over its use.
- The White Stripes, who in September sued Trump in a case that alleges he used their hit song “Seven Nation Army” without permission in a video posted to social media.
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Trump campaign’s use of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is “blasphemy,” singer Rufus Wainwright says
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