Several performers have withdrawn from US Freedom 250, the planned celebration marking 250 years of independence in the United States, with Bret Michaels of Poison among the latest to do so on Friday, citing the event’s association with President Donald Trump.
Many of the performers who initially signed on and later withdrew have said they were misled, believing the event to be a non-partisan festival rather than a celebration sponsored by President Donald Trump.
Freedom 250, the group behind the Great American State Fair, announced the artist lineup on Wednesday for the sixteen-day event scheduled to take place at the National Mall in Washington, DC from June 25 to July 10. The organization was established last year by the Trump administration, and the President appointed its CEO, although it maintains that the event is non-partisan.
According to Variety, Michaels said in a statement that the atmosphere surrounding the show had become “poisoned” and that he was unsettled by threats linked to the controversial festival. So far, Young MC, Morris Day, the Commodores, Bret Michaels, and country singer Martina McBride have all confirmed they will not be participating.
Freedom 250 organizers have described it as a nonprofit festival “dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation’s 250th anniversary,” adding that it will also honor war veterans, active-duty military personnel, teachers, and “hardworking Americans.”
Artists’ statements on Donald Trump-affiliated US independence celebration
Morris Day and Young MC were the first to withdraw from Freedom 250. Young MC wrote on social media that artists had not been informed of any “political involvement with the event,” adding that he looked forward to performing in Washington, DC in the future at an event that is “not so politically charged.”
Morris Day posted an image on Instagram stating, “Contrary To Rumor, Morris Day & The Time Will Not Be Performing At The ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR,’” captioned simply, “It’s A No For Me.”
Following their announcements, The Commodores also confirmed on social media that they would not be performing at the Great American State Fair, writing: “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.”
Singer Martina McBride said in a statement on X that she was “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
Trump planning on “major speech” instead
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he may instead use the festival to deliver a “major speech” in Washington, DC, while describing the artists who withdrew as “third rate.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was aware that some performers were getting “the yips” about their participation and suggested he was considering appearing instead at a new rally scheduled for the same time and location.
“I am ordering my Representatives to look at the feasibility of doing an AMERICA IS BACK Rally on Wednesday, Washington, DC, same time, same location. Only Great Patriots invited,” he wrote, also describing himself as the “Number One Attraction anywhere in the World.” He added that he could draw a larger audience than Elvis in his prime, even without holding a guitar.
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