The Oval Office of the White House resonated with the powerful opera performance of Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on Friday, October 17.
The official schedule called for a high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but diplomatic negotiations were dominated by Bocelli’s impromptu tune.
The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows the 67-year-old tenor singing his iconic “Time to Say Goodbye” as President Donald Trump looks on from behind the Resolute Desk.
Bocelli wearing his signature sunglasses sang part of the song.
He paused mid-verse, laughing briefly before picking up where he left off.
The choice of song and the setting of the White House created a contrast that was both striking and powerful. Although ostensibly a romantic ballad, its title resonated in the West Wing just before a critics meeting.
For critics and supporters alike, the soundtrack provided an unintentional symbolic backdrop to the day’s event.
After his visit, President Trump announced that Bocelli would return to the White House and was scheduled to perform officially on December 5.
