Megyn Kelly has criticized the troubled Freedom 250 festival, calling it a “disaster” after multiple performers withdrew from the lineup amid backlash over the event’s ties to President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. On her podcast, Kelly said the rollout had gone badly from the start and claimed even many Republicans were mocking the event online, with little public support for the initiative. The Great American State Fair, a multi-day event organized by Freedom 250, was originally promoted as a patriotic celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C., with nine artists announced. Since then, several acts have exited, leaving organizers scrambling to rebuild the lineup.
Among the performers reported to have backed away are Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Morris Day, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, and Young MC. McBride said she believed the concert was a nonpartisan celebration before learning more about its political connections. Kelly suggested some artists may have feared backlash for appearing at an event increasingly associated with Trump, arguing that the negative reaction across the board likely pushed them to distance themselves quickly.
The cancellations have left only a handful of acts still listed, including C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, and Flo Rida. Trump reportedly reacted angrily to the mounting losses and said he was considering turning the event into a MAGA rally, even suggesting he himself could become the main attraction. That proposal sparked criticism that the nation’s semiquincentennial is being politicized.
The controversy also comes as the U.S. prepares for two separate 250th anniversary efforts. Freedom 250 is connected to the Trump White House and is planning major events in Washington, while America250, created by Congress, is overseeing broader nonpartisan commemorations nationwide.
Despite the uproar, some performers remain committed. Freedom Williams of C+C Music Factory defended his decision to stay on the bill, saying politics were not part of the original booking conversation and that he was not going to let critics dictate his choices. He said he had received angry messages from people who wanted the group to cancel, but insisted he would not be pressured into backing out.
The festival’s shrinking lineup, political associations, and public criticism have made it one of the more contentious celebrations tied to the country’s upcoming 250th birthday.
