President Donald Trump on Saturday called for the cancellation of a concert series planned for America’s 250th anniversary celebration, after several musicians withdrew from the lineup. In a Truth Social post, Trump urged organizers to scrap the performances and replace them with a “giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY” instead of, as he put it, “overpriced singers” whose music is “boring” and who “do nothing but complain.” He later suggested he himself should headline an alternative event, calling himself the “Number One Attraction” and saying he should replace the “Third Rate ‘Artists.’”
The concert series was announced by Freedom 250, the group organizing the Trump administration’s events for the nation’s 250th birthday. The lineup was tied to a 16-day exposition called the Great American State Fair, set for the National Mall starting in late June. The fair is part of a broader slate of celebrations for the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of American independence.
But the rollout quickly became controversial. At least five performers have since dropped out, with some saying they were not told the event had been connected to a Trump administration initiative. Artists including Young MC, the Commodores, Bret Michaels and Morris Day and the Time all said they would no longer participate. Bret Michaels said the event had become “more divisive” than what he believed he had agreed to join. Martina McBride also withdrew, saying she had been told the performance would be nonpartisan, but that this had been misleading.
Trump’s comments added to the confusion about the event’s format and timing. In one post, he said he had directed “my Representatives” to explore the feasibility of an “America Is Back” rally and a major speech to energize the country. A White House spokesman referred questions back to Trump’s social media posts.
Freedom 250 later said Trump would open the Great American State Fair on Wednesday, June 24, with an opening ceremony. That date appeared to differ from the concert announcement, which said the musical events would begin on June 25. A senior administration official described the planning as “a mess” and suggested internal frustration over how invitations were handled.
Despite the cancellations, some acts remain uncertain or committed. Vanilla Ice confirmed he will perform and said the event should not be political. In comments to TMZ, he said he does not vote and does not care about politics, adding that he plays for fans and would perform anywhere. The White House said it appreciated that he was still participating.
Other announced performers, including C+C Music Factory and Flo Rida, had not clearly confirmed their involvement. The band Milli Vanilli was also listed, though one of its singers said the group had not been asked to appear.
