A 16-day exposition planned for the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States has undergone significant changes following the mass withdrawal of its scheduled musical performers.
The event, termed the "Great American State Fair" and organized by the group Freedom 250, was scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10, 2026. After several acts withdrew, citing concerns about the event's political nature, President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of the concert series and its replacement with a political-style rally.
Event Organization and Background
The planning for the 250th anniversary involves multiple organizations. America250 is a nonpartisan commission created by Congress in 2016 to plan nationwide celebrations and is overseen by a bipartisan board. Freedom 250 is a separate public-private partnership and 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by a 2025 executive order from President Trump. Freedom 250 was established to organize high-profile events in Washington, D.C., including the Great American State Fair.
President Trump chairs the Salute to America 250 Task Force, which oversees Freedom 250. The organization has stated it is nonpartisan and focused on uniting Americans. Donors contributing $1 million to Freedom 250 were offered access to the president, according to reports from The New York Times.
The Great American State Fair
The fair was scheduled to take place on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10, featuring over 150 exhibits, state and territory pavilions, a Ferris wheel, rodeo, and military flyovers. Admission was free with pre-registration encouraged.
State Participation:
All U.S. states and territories were invited to participate. Freedom 250 stated a majority of states are participating. However, at least nine states—Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington—confirmed they are not sending official government delegations. Most cited financial costs, with estimates ranging from $100,000 to over $500,000 per state. Some states, like Illinois, are represented by local businesses or organizations without state funds. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed concern about the event's perceived partisan nature.
Performance Lineup and Artist Withdrawals
The initial musical lineup for the Great American State Fair included Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida, Martina McBride, C+C Music Factory, Bret Michaels, Young MC, The Commodores, and Morris Day and The Time.
Following the lineup announcement, a majority of these artists announced their withdrawal from the event. Multiple sources confirmed that at least seven of the nine originally announced performers withdrew.
Artists Who Withdrew:
- Morris Day: Announced he and The Time would not perform, describing the advertised appearance as a "rumor."
- Young MC: Stated he was not informed of the event's political involvement, describing the situation as a "bait-and-switch."
- The Commodores: Confirmed they would not perform, stating they choose not to publicly affiliate with any political party.
- Martina McBride: Announced her withdrawal, stating she was "presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading."
- Bret Michaels: Withdrew, stating the event had "evolved into something much more divisive" than what he agreed to, and cited "safety concerns due to threats."
- Milli Vanilli: Jodie Rocco, who identified herself as a member of "the real" Milli Vanilli, stated neither she nor her sister were asked to perform. Promotional materials featured Fab Morvan, who indicated he would perform as part of the "I Love the 90's Tour."
Artists Confirmed or Remaining:
- Vanilla Ice (Robert Van Winkle): Confirmed he would perform, stating the event is a celebration of America's birthday and not political. He said he does not vote and would perform for any political leader.
- Flo Rida: Did not comment on his participation.
- C+C Music Factory: Member Freedom Williams initially considered backing out but later indicated he would perform. Co-founder Robert Clivillés disassociated from Williams' statements regarding the event.
Presidential Response and Event Cancellation
Following the artist withdrawals, President Trump announced on social media that he was considering replacing the concert with a political-style rally. He later confirmed the concert series was canceled and replaced with a "Make America Great Again" rally on June 24.
Rally Details:
The rally was scheduled for June 24 at 7 P.M. in Washington, D.C. It was announced to include performances by Lee Greenwood and opera singer Christopher Macchio, along with the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own," the Armed Forces Choir, and the United States Marine Band "The President's Own" with the Joint Armed Forces Chorus. The event was set to conclude with a speech by President Trump. The Leonard Cohen estate stated that the use of their song ‘Hallelujah’ at the rally was not authorized.
Reactions and Ongoing Events
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated on CNN that the country's 250th birthday celebration is a "nonpartisan event." Following the transition of the concert series to a rally, some conservative commentators criticized the move.
The Great American State Fair continued as scheduled, opening on June 25. The fair includes state pavilions, rodeo shows, food vendors, and other attractions. The planned musical performances for the opening were replaced by President Trump's speech on the prior day.