President Donald Trump is set to headline the upcoming “Great American State Fair,” part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, after several musical guests pulled out over the event’s ties to him.
Trump Headlines the Celebration
Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that he would take over performances from artists who backed out. He referred to himself as “the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!)” and said he would replace “highly paid, third-rate artists.”
The organizers, Freedom 250, confirmed that Trump will kick off the celebration on Wednesday, June 24. A spokesperson noted that the fair, scheduled from June 25 through July 10 on Washington’s National Mall, will feature exhibits, family attractions, musical performances, flyovers, and more.
Artists Pull Out
Several artists, including Bret Michaels, the Commodores, and Martina McBride, recently withdrew from the fair. They said they were misled about the event being nonpartisan or wanted to avoid being involved in political controversies. McBride stated on Instagram that she had been told it was a nonpartisan event, which turned out to be misleading.
Remaining Musical Guests
Other performers still scheduled to attend include Flo Rida, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli, and Vanilla Ice. Vanilla Ice’s representative said the rapper is “proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary.”
About Freedom 250
Freedom 250 was launched last year by Trump and is led by a former State Department appointee from his first term. The group describes the event as nonpartisan, though its ties to Trump have influenced artists’ participation and media coverage.
