Trump to Headline ‘Freedom 250’ Rally Amid Artist Withdrawals

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

Freedom 250, the organization behind the 16-day celebration 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 artists including Martina McBride and Bret Michaels said they were misled about its 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 June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall. It has been promoted as a national celebration with concerts, state exhibits and patriotic programming, but the entertainment lineup has been shaken by a wave of withdrawals from performers who said they believed they had agreed to take part 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 saying they would no longer perform. Several of them said they were not properly informed about the event’s political nature.

Michaels, the Poison frontman and son of a veteran, said Friday that the event had initially been presented to his team as “a celebration of our country through music” and a chance to honor “veterans, active military, first responders, teachers and hardworking Americans from all walks of life.”

But he said the event had become “much more divisive” than what he agreed to join and cited safety concerns involving his fans, crew and family.

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

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

Young MC made a similar point, writing that artists “were never told about any political involvement with the event” and that he hoped to perform in Washington in the future at something “not so politically charged.”

Freedom 250 has pushed back against claims that the fair is partisan.

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

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

Trump’s 250th Anniversary Push Also Includes Proposed $250 Bill

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

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

Not every artist has backed out of the concert, however.

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

The status of some performers remains complicated. ABC News reported that C+C Music Factory’s status is unclear after Freedom Williams suggested he 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 vocalists saying the group was not contacted to participate, while Fab Morvan said he plans to perform.

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