MAGA-affiliated musician takes stage east of Ottawa after NCC pulls permit

A Christian rocker affiliated with U.S. President Donald Trump played to more than 100 people in Alfred and Plantagenet, Ont., on Saturday afternoon after he was prevented from holding a free concert in Gatineau, Que.

The National Capital Commission (NCC) had refused to issue a permit for Sean Feucht to play in Jacques-Cartier Park, which is managed by the Crown corporation.

Feucht, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican in 2020, is also a missionary and an author who has spoken out against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, abortion rights and critical race theory.

He has called for government policy in the United States to be based on traditional Christian values in the midst of a "spiritual war" in that country.  

The NCC said Wednesday evening it had consulted with the Gatineau Police Service and would not allow Feucht to play in the riverside park, citing "concerns about public safety and security."

The refusal to issue the permit echoed similar decisions made by other Canadian municipalities, including Quebec City, Moncton and Charlottetown.

Alfred and Plantagenet Mayor Yves Laviolette said he was unaware of the concert until he was alerted by the media and then later by Ontario Provincial Police.

"We're just trying to be prepared for whatever consequences are going to happen," Laviolette told Radio-Canada before the concert. "Hopefully it's going to be very docile."

After the concert, Feucht spoke briefly with reporters.

"We worshipped. We took communion. People were baptized. People got saved and set free," he said. "And then we handed out bibles. It was a great night."

Feucht added that he'd heard about "resistance" to his shows and welcomed anyone who was curious to attend.

"We're just grateful to be here right now," he said.