U.S. President Donald Trump is set to headline an event marking the United States’ 250th anniversary next month, organizers announced, following the withdrawal of several musical performers who had been scheduled to participate in the celebrations.
The concerts were originally planned as the opening event of the “Great American State Fair,” a 16-day celebration scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10, 2026.
Organizers said the event, coordinated by the Freedom 250 group, is expected to span the National Mall in Washington, stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument, featuring concert stages, state pavilions, exhibitions, rides and other attractions.
However, the planned entertainment lineup has faced setbacks after multiple performers withdrew from the event.
On Friday, Bret Michaels, lead singer of the rock band Poison, became the fifth performer to pull out, stating that the event was not the nonpartisan celebration he had initially expected.
Following the cancellations, Freedom 250 announced on social media that President Trump would “personally kick off this historic celebration.”
Organizers have not publicly provided detailed reasons for the cancellations, while questions have emerged regarding whether the event will proceed in its originally planned format.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump suggested that musical performances may become less important if artists continue withdrawing, proposing instead an “America Is Back Rally.”
“The fact is that I am, according to many, the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote, adding that he attracts “much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime.”
Freedom 250 is a public-private partnership established with White House involvement to coordinate activities marking the 250th anniversary of the United States alongside federal agencies.
The anniversary celebrations are expected to continue across multiple locations despite ongoing changes to event programming.
