Montreal church to be slapped with fine after hosting pro-Trump singer without permit, city says

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The City of Montreal says it will issue a fine to the church that hosted Sean Feucht, a pro-Trump Christian singer, on Friday night, after warning the venue in advance it did not have the proper permit for a concert.

A spokesperson for Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said a statement of offence will be handed to Église MR, where Feucht performed as part of his “Revive in 25” tour.

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Catherine Cadotte said the church defied a warning from borough inspectors, who had visited the Spanish-speaking church on Roy St. with Montreal police earlier in the day.

“The church did not have a permit to organize a concert,” she said. “A statement of offence will be issued since the organization violated the regulations.”

Asked by The Gazette if that includes a monetary fine, she replied: “Yes.”

Before the event, however, Feucht told media “this not a performance, it’s a church service.”

Feucht, who is outspoken about his support for U.S. President Donald Trump and a former worship leader, has drawn criticism across Canada for his views on abortion, gender identity and LGBTQ2+ rights.

Before Friday’s event began, several police officers briefly entered the church, but later confirmed the show would proceed.

As Feucht’s supporters began arriving, local activists gathered in front of the church, chanting anti-Trump and anti-fascism slogans. It sparked a heavy police presence.

At least one protester was arrested. A second confrontation, involving a journalist from Rebel News, prompted police to intervene and separate the crowd.

Inside the church, a few dozen people sang and prayed while a row of police officers kept watch outside. The protest crowd outside the church had thinned by 8:30 p.m.

The Montreal concert followed a string of cancellations across Canada. Cities including Halifax, Charlottetown, Quebec City and Vaughan pulled permits, citing public safety concerns.

In Miramichi, N.B., a last-minute concert held at a private campground drew criticism from the property’s owners, who said the event was unauthorized and “not aligned with our values.”

Feucht has framed the backlash as a violation of religious freedom, saying: “If I had shown up with purple hair and a dress, claiming to be a woman, the government wouldn’t have said a word.”