President Donald Trump is planning to headline a major rally in Washington, D.C., after several performers pulled out of the entertainment lineup for the upcoming Great American State Fair.
Freedom250, the organization behind the event, announced Saturday that Trump will lead the fair’s opening ceremony on June 24 as part of celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
“As the visionary behind the Great American State Fair, we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24, in an opening ceremony celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” Freedom250 spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Trump suggested on social media that he would replace the entertainment program with a political rally after several artists withdrew from the event.
The president said he was working on plans to hold a rally on June 24 “to take the place of these highly paid, third-rate artists,” adding that he intended to deliver a major speech focused on the nation’s future.
In a subsequent post, Trump floated the idea of hosting a large-scale “Make America Great Again” rally instead of featuring musical acts, criticizing performers who had backed out and describing them as overpriced entertainers whose music failed to connect with audiences.
Trump also suggested that canceling the event altogether remained an option, comparing the situation to his recent decision to end his involvement with the Kennedy Center following a court ruling that blocked parts of his proposed overhaul of the performing arts institution.
Several artists originally announced for the fair—including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, Morris Day, and The Commodores—confirmed by Friday that they would no longer participate.
Some of the performers said they had been misled about the nature of the event when they initially agreed to appear.
The withdrawals have raised questions about the future format of the celebration, though organizers say preparations continue for the June event with Trump now expected to play a central role.
