President Donald Trump is set to headline the opening ceremony of the Great American State Fair next month after several performers announced they would no longer participate in the event.
Freedom250, the organization behind the Great American State Fair, confirmed Saturday that Trump will kick off the celebration on June 24 in Washington, D.C., as part of events marking America’s 250th anniversary.
“As the visionary behind the Great American State Fair, we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24 in an opening ceremony celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” Freedom250 spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
The announcement came after a string of artists publicly withdrew from the entertainment lineup. Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day and The Time, and The Commodores all said they would no longer perform. Several of the artists claimed they were not fully aware of the event’s political connections when they initially agreed to participate.
Trump responded to the departures on social media, suggesting he could replace the entertainment lineup with a political rally.
“I am working on a major speech and rally,” Trump wrote, adding that he would “rally the country forward” as he has throughout his presidency.
In a separate post, Trump floated the idea of holding a “giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY” instead of featuring what he described as “overpriced singers” who complain about his administration.
The controversy appears to stem from concerns among some performers that Freedom250 is more closely aligned with Trump and his political movement than they originally understood. Freedom250 is separate from the congressionally authorized U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which operates under the America250 initiative.
Event organizers have rejected claims that the celebration is partisan.
“The Great American State Fair is a celebration of all Americans, and Freedom250 remains fully committed to delivering a once-in-a-lifetime experience that brings every corner of this country together on the National Mall,” Freedom250 spokeswoman Rachel Reisner said in a statement.
“We respect the rights of any artist to make their own decisions, and our doors remain open to any performer who wants to be part of honoring 250 years of American freedom, culture, and unity,” she added.
Despite the high-profile withdrawals, not all performers have backed out. Representatives for rapper Vanilla Ice confirmed he still plans to perform at the event and is proud to participate in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
As of Saturday, rapper Flo Rida had not publicly announced whether he intends to remain on the lineup.
The Great American State Fair is scheduled to take place on the National Mall as part of the broader nationwide celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
