When several performers dropped out of a major national celebration event in Washington DC, President Donald Trump had a straightforward solution in mind: do it himself.
Trump floated the idea on his Truth Social platform over the weekend, suggesting he could deliver a major speech and hold a rally at the same time and location originally planned for the concert. He described himself as the number one attraction in the world, someone who draws bigger crowds than Elvis did at his peak, and all without a guitar. He said he was directing his representatives to look into whether holding an “AMERICA IS BACK” rally on the same day was feasible, calling it a wild and beautiful celebration of the country and inviting only what he called great patriots.
He did not confirm a specific date.
Why the Performers Left
The departures followed the public announcement of the lineup on Wednesday. Within days, nearly every act had withdrawn. Poison frontman Bret Michaels, country singer Martina McBride, R&B group The Commodores, Young MC, Morris Day and The Time, and C+C Music Factory all pulled out of their scheduled appearances.
Michaels cited security concerns for both his band and fans, saying the event had shifted away from the celebration of the country and veterans he had originally signed up for and had become something far more divisive than he was comfortable with.
Trump, for his part, was unbothered by the exits. He said he had no interest in performers who were unhappy and that he only wanted to be surrounded by people who were smart, successful and knew how to win.
What the Event Actually Is
The Great American State Fair on the National Mall is a 16-day series of concerts and events running from June 25 through July 10. It is being organized by Freedom 250, a nonprofit set up by the Trump administration to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. The program includes concerts, a salute to veterans, and a segment called MAHA Monday, tied to the administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative.
Who Is Still In
Not everyone walked away. Vanilla Ice confirmed he is still on board, posting on Instagram about the upcoming show and promising to bring back the nineties. He described himself as honored to be part of the celebration.