Who sang the National Anthem for Donald Trump's inauguration? All about the popular opera singer

On Monday, January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President, marking the inception of his final and non-consecutive term.

The inaugural ceremony also featured a much-talked-about performance by Christopher Macchio, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the National Anthem. Macchio is a New York City native, well-known as an opera singer and a longtime Trump supporter.

He is a Manhattan School of Music alumni, where he was trained in classical vocal performance. According to his official site, Macchio received training from American opera baritone Theodor Uppman.

Apart from being a solo performer, the Italian-American classical crossover vocalist is also a part of The New York Tenors alongside Daniel Rodriguez and Andy Cooney. The trio has often performed concerts at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Additionally, Macchio has collaborated with David Foster, Peabo Bryson, Al Jardine (Beach Boys), and Haley Reinhart of American Idol fame. The 46-year-old opera singer is reportedly one of Trump’s favorites.

Macchio has done shows across the US, including cities like Philadelphia, Miami, Dallas, San Francisco, and LA. He has also performed at concerts internationally in Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Furthermore, Macchio has also released two studio albums — Dolci Momenti and O Holy Night. In addition to his singing career, Macchio has also acted in two films — Cabrini and Don Q.

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Christopher Macchio has been a Trump Supporter for a long time

Christopher Macchio also performed at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in 2020, where Trump was among the speakers. At the event, he sang Nessun Dorma, Hallelujah, Ave Maria, God Bless America, and America the Beautiful. He again performed at the 2024 RNC and made an appearance during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for a second term.

Macchio performed at the Republican candidate’s return rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He also sang New York, New York at the 47th President (then candidate)’s Madison Square Gardens (MSG) rally.

His official website also mentions Macchio’s performance during a private victory gala at Mar-a-Lago, where he apparently invited Elon Musk and the US President to sing God Bless America.

According to Macchio’s interview with CBS News, he first encountered Trump more than a decade ago. Macchio had stepped in as a replacement for a performer at the New Year’s Eve gala at Mar-a-Lago.

After the performance, the 47th President was left quite impressed and even gave him a massive compliment, as recalled by Macchio:

“He said, 'Your voice is unbelievable, magnificent. I can't tell who is better, you or Pavarotti.”

As mentioned above, Macchio performed at the 60th presidential inauguration. The 47th President was also seen saluting while he sang the national anthem. However, Macchio wasn't the sole performer at the ceremony.

Carrie Underwood and Lee Greenwood also performed at the US Capitol Rotunda. Underwood sang a cappella version of America the Beautiful amidst technical hiccups, while Greenwood performed God Bless The USA.