Nobody wants to sing for President Trump? No takers for inauguration yet
Washington: His brash policies and crude remarks may not have deterred US citizens from voting business tycoon Donald Trump into the White House, but his acid tongue seems to have done a good job in prompting the music fraternity to keep him at arms length.
US President elect Donald Trump is confronted with an unusual problem that no other President has had to split their heads about- lack of performers for his inauguration ceremony at Washington on January 20.
Outgoing President Obama was ostentatiously supported by a sparkling Beyoncé and Aretha Franklin during his inauguration ceremony.
Later, when he was campaigning for re-election, Obama was supported by the famous indie band The National, who ended up holding placards and wooing voters for him in a key swing state.
But barring Azealia Banks, Trump has not impressed many artistes from the music fraternity, and is struggling to find someone to perform at his 20 January inauguration.
Contradicting Trump camp’s claims, Britain's Sir Elton John had announced earlier on Wednesday that he would not perform at the inauguration ceremony.
Anthony Scaramucci, economic adviser to Trump's campaign, said in a BBC radio interview that John would be performing. "Elton John is going to be doing our concert on the Mall for the inauguration," Scaramucci had said.
But the singer’s publicist was quick to clarify matters. "Elton will not be performing at Trump's inaugural," Fran Curtis, John’s publicist, responded.
John, a prominent gay rights activist, performed at fundraisers for Democrat Hillary Clinton during the U.S. presidential election campaign.
He also objected when Trump played his "Rocket Man" and "Tiny Dancer" songs without permission during rallies and campaign appearances earlier this year, saying that any use of his music "should not be seen as an endorsement of Donald Trump."
