President Donald Trump announced Saturday he would bring the “Number One Attraction anywhere in the World” to the Freedom 250 concert series, after several notable musicians backed out of performances: Himself.
In a Truth Social post, the president criticized artists, who he said were getting “the yips” about performing at the Great American State Fair, an event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership established by Trump.
“I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump wrote Saturday.
This past week, at least five of the nine musical acts set to play the Freedom 250 concert series, between June 25 and July 10, said they would drop out, claiming they did not want to be part of political discourse or that they were misled about the nonpartisan nature of the event. That includes Bret Michaels, Young MC, the Commodores, Morris Day and the Time, and Martina McBride.
The president said he didn’t want “so-called ‘Artists’ that get paid far too much money, who aren’t happy” to perform at the event. He ordered his team to “look at the feasibility of doing an AMERICA IS BACK Rally.”
Trump said his speech would take place in Washington, D.C., at the same time and in the same location. However, he also mentioned it would occur “Wednesday,” though it’s unclear what day exactly he is referring to. The concert series does not appear to be taking place on a Wednesday.
Artists began pulling out of performances after Freedom 250 announced the guest speakers and musical acts for the Great American State Fair taking place on the National Mall.
Michaels said he would drop out after the event became “something much more divisive than what I agreed to be part of.” He cited safety concerns. Young MC said he was “never told about any political involvement with the event.”
There has been some confusion about the nonpartisan nature of some of the events taking place to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Two organizations have led the effort to organize celebrations. America250, a nonprofit created to support a nonpartisan congressional commission, and Freedom 250, an organization established by the Trump administration.
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