Trump turns – Days after multiple musicians withdrew from Freedom 250’s initially planned 16-day “Great American State Fair” concerts over concerns about political affiliation and confusion about what they signed up for, President Donald Trump disclosed a new June 24 rally
By the time the Freedom 250 musicians started pulling out, the pivot was already underway.
President Donald Trump used a June 4 social media post to reveal the new lineup for a June 24 rally celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary—days after a wave of entertainers backed out of performing at a Freedom 250 multi-day event that had been marketed as nonpartisan. In the new plan, the spotlight shifts away from outside performers and onto Trump himself.
“We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home. All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!” Trump wrote.
The event traces back to a broader Freedom 250 concept created by Trump to mark America’s 250th birthday. Freedom 250 had been planning a 16-day concert series as part of an event coined the “Great America State Fair.” But after musicians withdrew following questions about the gathering’s perceived political affiliation and confusion about what they had signed up for. Trump moved to cancel the performances and replace them with his own speech at the June 24 rally.
Trump headlining comes with a lineup before he takes the stage. In his Truth Social post, he announced country singer Lee Greenwood would sing his 1984 hit “God Bless The U.S.A” at the June 24 rally before introducing the headlining act: the president himself.
Alongside Greenwood, opera singer Christopher Macchio is set to perform before Trump’s speech, Trump said. The U.S. Army Band, Armed Forces Choir, U.S. Marine Band and Joint Armed Forces Chorus are also included.
Greenwood, 83, framed the invitation as personal and longstanding. He called the opportunity “a tremendous honor” in a statement. The singer has been a longtime Trump ally. including performing at Trump’s past campaign rallies and even selling a bible alongside the president in 2021. Macchio previously appeared at Trump’s inauguration in 2025.
The change didn’t come out of nowhere—it followed days when performers described uncertainty and concern about the event’s political tone. Freedom 250’s “Great American State Fair” was initially presented as a multi-day series tied to Freedom 250. but after a lineup was revealed on May 27. a slew of acts dropped out within hours.
Country musician Martina McBride wrote on X that she was misled into believing she would be performing at a “non-partisan event.” She said she had been “blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. ” adding: “It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs. I assure you, that is not the case,” she wrote.
Bret Michaels said his exit came from what he called the “divisive” nature of the event. In a lengthy Instagram post, he wrote: “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.”
Trump had already set the replacement plan in motion after the cancellations accelerated. On May 30, he announced he would replace the shows with a rally headlined by the president himself. A White House official previously confirmed the performances would be nixed and that Trump would speak instead.
Even with the concerts gone, the rest of the fair appears to remain on schedule. Freedom 250’s website says the fair will be held daily from June 25 to July 10 on the National Mall. and that it will include pavilions representing 56 states and territories. specialty exhibits. and classic fair attractions. Freedom 250’s website also indicates those fair activities are still planned as scheduled.
The sequence of decisions is now clear: after performers publicly said they believed the event was nonpartisan—or that it had turned into something they didn’t sign up for—Freedom 250 moved away from musical appearances and toward a rally structure built around Trump and patriotic music.
In the new Freedom 250 rally lineup for June 24, the role of outside acts is still there—but it’s tightly contained: Greenwood and Macchio, backed by military bands and choirs, all arriving before Trump’s headlining speech.
Freedom 250 Great American State Fair Trump rally Lee Greenwood God Bless The U.S.A Martina McBride Bret Michaels U.S. Army Band U.S. Marine Band Armed Forces Choir Joint Armed Forces Chorus National Mall 250th anniversary