Trump Proposes MAGA Rally After Artists Withdraw from Freedom 250 Concerts

Several artists have withdrawn from the Great American State Fair concert series, planned to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday on the National Mall, prompting former President Donald Trump to suggest replacing the event with a Make America Great Again (MAGA) rally. The fair, organized by Freedom 250—a public-private group created by a taskforce established through an executive order signed by Trump last year—had initially announced nine musical acts, including Martina McBride, The Commodores, and Bret Michaels. However, at least seven artists canceled their performances, citing concerns over the event’s political affiliations.

Martina McBride explained her withdrawal on social media, stating she was initially told the event was nonpartisan but later found that to be misleading. “In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can,” she wrote. Young MC, who also dropped out, expressed disappointment, saying artists were not informed about any political involvement and hoped to perform at less politically charged events in the future. Conversely, Vanilla Ice and one half of Milli Vanilli’s public-facing duo, Fab Morvan, confirmed they would still perform, with Vanilla Ice emphasizing on Instagram that “This is not a political platform. This is celebrating America’s birthday.”

In response to the artist withdrawals, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, calling the performers “Third Rate” and “overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain.” He proposed personally stepping in to deliver a speech, describing himself as the “Number One Attraction anywhere in the World” and claiming to draw larger audiences than Elvis Presley in his prime. Trump instructed his representatives to explore the feasibility of holding an “AMERICA IS BACK Rally” on the same date and location as the fair, inviting “Only Great Patriots” to attend. He later reiterated his preference for a “giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY” instead of the musical performances.

Freedom 250 was created by a taskforce established by an executive order signed by Trump last year, and Trump appointed its CEO. The White House is backing Freedom 250 on the fair and other events marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, including a UFC fight on the South Lawn and a Grand Prix race in Washington, D.C. These events have White House support, but the sources do not specify that all are organized by Freedom 250. The group maintains the events are nonpartisan.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, involved in planning the celebration, defended the event’s nonpartisan nature during a CNN interview. “Freedom 250 and the celebration of 250 is a nonpartisan event,” he said, adding that some musicians “seem to have segmented their audiences the same way politicians have.” When asked about Trump referring to the event as a rally, Burgum responded, “Well, it is, but that’s something I think we all can certainly understand.”

Burgum also declined to disclose private donors funding the celebrations, stating, “It’s not about the transparency of the donors. This is about Americans celebrating the 250th anniversary.” Separately, Burgum defended high-profit margins for contractors updating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and mentioned the administration might appeal a judge’s order to remove Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; these remarks were not directly linked to the 250th anniversary celebrations or Freedom 250 events.

The original America250 organization, created by Congress a decade ago and led by bipartisan appointees, is also conducting its own series of events across the country, including Fourth of July celebrations in New York City, Philadelphia, and California, as well as block parties nationwide.