Trump floats replacing 250th anniversary concert with massive MAGA rally after artists pull out
Trump Floats MAGA Rally as Concert Lineup Faces Artist Exits
Former President Donald Trump announced Saturday he is considering replacing the Freedom 250 concerts with a massive Make America Great Again rally after multiple artists withdrew from the planned summer celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
The proposal comes as several high-profile performers have exited the Great American State Fair concert series, which is scheduled to take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., from June 25 through July 10, 2026.
In a statement on Truth Social, Trump criticized the departing artists, saying they were "getting the yips" and calling their music "boring." He suggested replacing the musical performances with a major speech and rally, claiming he draws larger audiences than popular entertainers.
"Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center, because a Highly Conflicted, Crooked Federal Judge, said that I should not be allowed to spend my time and money in order to MAKE THE CENTER GREAT AGAIN," Trump wrote.
The former president also took aim at a federal judge who recently ruled that his name must be removed from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump's comments follow Freedom 250 organizers' release of a performer lineup earlier this week, which included artists like Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, and others before the cancellations. Artists who have confirmed participation include Vanilla Ice, whom he described as being "honored" to take part.
"Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center, because a Highly Conflicted, Crooked Federal Judge, said that I should not be allowed to spend my time and money in order to MAKE THE CENTER GREAT AGAIN, actually, far greater than it ever was before!" Trump continued in his social media post.
The former president suggested he could headline the event himself, stating: "I understand Artists are getting 'the yips' having to do with their performance on Wednesday, so I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists,' and give a major speech, rallying the Country forward like I have done ever since being President!"
Trump indicated he was considering holding a speech and rally on June 24 to kick off the festivities, adding that he "doesn’t want so-called 'Artists' that get paid far too much money, who aren't happy" and "only wants to be surrounded by Happy People, Smart People, Successful People, and People that know how to WIN."
Freedom 250 later confirmed that Trump would deliver a speech ahead of the Great American State Fair.
"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," Freedom 250 spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez wrote.
