The Oval Office of the White House resonated with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s powerful opera performance on Friday, October 17.
The official schedule included a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the diplomatic talks were dominated by Bocelli’s impromptu aria.
The video that went viral on social media shows the 67-year-old tenor singing his iconic “Time to Say Goodbye” as President Donald Trump watches from behind the Resolute Desk.
Bocelli, wearing his iconic sunglasses, sang a part of the song.
He paused mid-verse, laughing briefly before seamlessly picking up where he left off.
The choice of song and the atmosphere of the White House created a jarring but powerful contrast. Although ostensibly a romantic ballad, its title resonated in the West Wing just before a critical meeting.
For critics and supporters alike, the soundtrack provided an unwanted symbolic backdrop to the day’s event.
Following his visit, President Trump announced that Bocelli will return to the White House and is scheduled to perform formally on December 5.
