Artists signed up for a 250th anniversary concert series. Then they found out it was Donald Trump-affiliated — and started dropping out

The lineup for the Freedom 250 concert series, which is set to mark America’s 250th birthday, is quickly shrinking as artists from the lineup decide to walk away from the project. This event, officially titled Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair, is a 16-day festival scheduled to take place on the National Mall in Washington, DC, starting June 25 and running through July 10.

According to Page Six, the festival was initially envisioned as a patriotic celebration featuring concerts, military tributes, and family-friendly attractions. While the event is still moving forward with its plans to include everything from a 110-foot Ferris wheel to innovation exhibits and daily themed programming, the roster of musical acts has faced significant turnover. Several artists have publicly stated that they are pulling out of the festival. 

Country music legend Martina McBride was among the first to announce her departure on May 28. She took to Instagram and X, to share her reasoning: “I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.” McBride noted that she had been assured the event would celebrate all 50 states and bring people together, but she eventually felt that was not the case. 

Somehow, it looks like she started an exodus

Bret Michaels, the frontman of Poison, also announced his exit on May 28, through Instagram. As the son of a veteran, Michaels said he was initially drawn to the idea of a celebration honoring military members and hardworking Americans. 

“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” he wrote. He also cited concerns regarding the safety of his team and fans, noting that his shows have never been about politics.

The rapper Young MC took to Facebook to announce his withdrawal, stating, “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed”. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.” 

Similarly, Morris Day of Morris Day and The Time confirmed his band would not be appearing. He kept his message short on an Instagram post captioned, “It’s A No For Me.” 

The Commodores also issued a brief statement via Instagram, noting, “Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans.”

While several artists have dropped out, others like Vanilla Ice are continuing with their scheduled performances, with a representative telling the Associated Press that the rapper is “proud to help celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary!” and that “Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate USA’s Birthday and our Freedom!” 

C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams also confirmed he is moving forward with his performance. In an explicit video posted to Instagram, Williams acknowledged that he had initially considered dropping out after learning about the political affiliation of the event. However, per Page Six, he is choosing to stay to prove angry fans wrong.

The Great American State Fair is organized by Freedom 250, which describes itself as a national, non-partisan organization. According to the organization, the fair is intended to serve as a world-class celebration of the nation’s milestone birthday.

It will feature a wide range of cultural, educational, and military-focused programming. Per the organization, the event is set to occupy the space between the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument, with various military musical units, such as the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble, also scheduled to participate.

As the festival dates approach, it remains to be seen how the final lineup will look. While some artists have faced backlash from fans on social media, others like Flo Rida remain on the schedule for a July 2 performance, though the rapper has yet to comment on the controversy. 

The organizers continue to emphasize that the event is open to the public and that registration is encouraged for those planning to attend. This concert is just one of the planned events to celebrate the nation’s semi quincentennial celebration. Another big event is the planned UFC match that will take place on the south lawn of the White House.

In addition to events, the Trump Administration is also releasing a collection of limited-edition items, like a commemorative gold coin, and a limited-edition passport. The latter was an idea that one GOP lawmaker found silly.