Trump to headline ‘Freedom 250’ rally amid artist withdrawals

President Donald Trump will headline the opening ceremony of the Great American State Fair after several performers pulled out of the National Mall event.

Freedom 250, the organization behind the 16-day celebrations tied to America’s 250th birthday, told ABC News on Saturday that Trump will personally kick off the event June 24 in Washington, D.C., after numerous performers, including Martina McBride and Bret Michaels, said they were misled about his political ties. The announcement came after Trump said on social media that he would hold a rally “to take the place of these highly paid third-rate ‘artists.’ »

The fair is scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall. It was billed as a national celebration with concerts, state exhibitions and patriotic programs, but the entertainment lineup was rocked by a wave of withdrawals from artists who said they believed they had agreed to participate in a nonpartisan event.

McBride, Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day and The Time and The Commodores were all announced as part of the event before declaring they would no longer perform. Several of them said they had not been properly informed about the political nature of the event.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey and Brett Michaels sing Lee Greenwood’s, Proud to be an American for the 2014 Military Child of the Year audience at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, Va., April 10, 2014. The event was hosted by Operation Homefront, which recognizes outstanding military children who demonstrate resilience, leadership and achievement. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Mikki L. Sprenkle/Released)

Michaels, Poison’s frontman and the son of a veteran, said Friday that the event was initially pitched to his team as “a celebration of our country through music” and a chance to honor “veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hard-working Americans from all walks of life.”

But he said the event had become “much more controversial” than he agreed to participate in and cited security concerns involving his fans, team and family.

McBride said he was told the event would be nonpartisan and celebrate all 50 states.

“I was presented with the opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but it turned out to be misleading,” McBride said.

Young MC made a similar point, writing that the artists “were never informed of any political involvement in the event” and that he hoped to perform in Washington in the future in a “less politically charged” event.

United States President Donald J. Trump waves to the crowd during the Army 250 parade in Washington, DC, June 14, 2025. The nationwide celebration included a day-long festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC, a parade and a spectacular fireworks display. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. PS Bailey Whilden)

Freedom 250 pushed back against claims that the fair was partisan.

Spokeswoman Rachel Reisner told ABC News that the Great American State Fair is “a celebration of all Americans” and that the organization remains committed to hosting an event that brings the country together on the National Mall.

The controversy highlighted the political tension surrounding the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations. Freedom 250 is separate from the congressionally established U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which operates as America250.

Trump’s 250th anniversary campaign also includes proposed $250 bill

The rally announcement comes as Trump and his administration have pushed to put the president’s image at the center of another 250th anniversary effort: a $250 bill bill.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed this week that his department had prepared a draft of a $250 bill featuring Trump, although Congress would have to approve the currency. Current federal law prohibits living people from appearing on U.S. currency, although Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina has introduced legislation that would direct the Treasury Department to print $250 Federal Reserve notes featuring Trump’s portrait.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent introduces a $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, May 28, 2026. The proposal is related to America’s 250th birthday celebrations. (Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images)

However, not all artists withdrew from the concert.

Representatives for Vanilla Ice told ABC News that the rapper is still under contract to perform on June 26 and is “proud to help celebrate America’s 250th birthday.” Flo Rida has not publicly announced whether he still plans to perform, according to the report.

The status of certain artists remains complicated. ABC News reported that the status of C+C Music Factory is unclear after Freedom Williams suggested it would participate, while co-founder Robert Clivillés publicly distanced the group from Williams’ comments and said the group would not perform.

Milli Vanilli’s participation is also disputed, with one of the original singers saying the group was not contacted to participate, while Fab Morvan said he planned to perform.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for June 24, one day before the official opening of the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.

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