Opera tenor Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem at President-elect Trump's Monday inauguration, although he will face a smaller audience than anticipated. Initially expecting a crowd of over 250,000, the ceremony has been moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to plummeting temperatures, accommodating only 600 attendees. Despite the adjustment, Macchio expressed optimism, saying, "from a musical and vocal perspective, it's actually a good thing."
Macchio's connection to Trump began nine years ago when he performed at a New Year's Eve event and later at Trump's 70th birthday. His continued performances at various Trump events, including the White House memorial for Trump's brother and the 2020 Republican National Convention, solidified their friendship. Asked to perform at the inauguration shortly after a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Macchio was informed he was the "first and only choice" for the anthem.
Macchio hopes Americans appreciate the music regardless of their political affiliation. He stated, "I hope that they'll give me that kind of opportunity to just listen and just really connect with the music." Macchio aims to advocate for classical music education and says he's discussing whether there's a way to work with the administration on that. Lady Gaga performed the anthem at Joe Biden's inauguration. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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