With rejection of artists, Trump is number 1 attraction at 250th anniversary fair in the USA
US President Donald Trump will headline an event celebrating the nation's 250th birthday on the National Mall next month, after several musical artists scheduled to perform at the celebration canceled appearances. Talents allege concerns about the event's association with the Republican president, fair organizers told the Washington Post.
The concerts were planned as the opening ceremony of the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event that will take place from June 25 to July 10, 2026.
Organizers said the fair will extend across the National Mall, with stages for shows, state pavilions, exhibits, rides and other attractions.
The music program was affected by a series of cancellations. On Friday, Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison, became the fifth artist to pull out of shows, saying the event will not be the nonpartisan celebration he had hoped for.
Organizers have not publicly disclosed the reasons for the withdrawals, although the departures have raised doubts about the viability of the event as originally planned.
Danielle Alvarez, an advisor to Freedom 250, told the Post that "Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24, at an opening ceremony commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States."
The Freedom 250 group did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
In a post on Truth Social earlier Saturday, Trump suggested that the concert series may no longer be necessary if artists continue to drop out. He mentioned the possibility of giving a speech on the National Mall, presenting himself as a more powerful attraction than any musical show.
"The fact is, according to many, I am the number one attraction anywhere in the world," Trump wrote. He added that he attracts "much bigger audiences than Elvis in his prime" and "does it without a guitar."
The Freedom 250 initiative is a public-private partnership created by the White House to coordinate celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the United States in conjunction with federal agencies.
It remains unclear whether replacement musicians will be recruited, or whether Trump's proposal to replace the performances with a rally is being seriously considered by organizers.
Source: CNN