Multiple performers booked for a festival celebrating America’s 250th birthday have dropped out, many saying they were misled about the political affiliation of the event.
Freedom 250, the group behind the Great American State Fair, unveiled the artists on Wednesday for the 16-day event planned on the National Mall in Washington DC between 25 June and 10 July.
The group was launched last year by the Trump administration and the president appointed its CEO, but it says the event is non-partisan.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he might instead use the occasion to give a “major speech” in Washington DC, calling the artists who dropped out “third rate”.
Freedom 250 has said it was a nonprofit “dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation’s 250th anniversary”.
Artists including Young MC, Morris Day, the Commodores, Poison frontman Bret Michaels and country singer Martina McBride have all since said they will not be participating.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he was aware of artists getting “the yips” about their performances, and was thinking about instead appearing himself at a new rally at same time and location.