President Donald Trump is taking matters into his own hands after a string of musicians bailed on his planned Freedom 250 concert series, swapping out the performers for a rally where he will be the main attraction. The move comes days after a lineup of artists dropped out of the multi-day event, citing political concerns and confusion over the gig.
On June 4, Trump took to social media to announce the new lineup for the June 24 rally. Country singer Lee Greenwood will kick things off with his classic anthem “God Bless The U.S.A,” but the headliner is clear: the president 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 on Truth Social.
The original plan for Freedom 250, the quasi-government group Trump formed to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, was a 16-day concert series as part of the “Great America State Fair.” But last week, a wave of musicians backed out, with several saying they were misled about the event’s non-partisan nature.
Among those who pulled out were country star Martina McBride, who claimed she was tricked into believing it was a non-political celebration. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one. 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,” she wrote on X.
Bret Michaels also exited, citing the “divisive” turn the event took. “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,” he posted on Instagram.
Trump responded by scrapping the concerts entirely and turning the event into a rally, with a White House official confirming the switch. The rally is set for June 24, and the lineup now includes Greenwood, opera singer Christopher Macchio, the U.S. Army Band, Armed Forces Choir, U.S. Marine Band, and the Joint Armed Forces Chorus.
Greenwood, an 83-year-old Trump ally who has performed at past rallies and even sold a bible with the president in 2021, called the opportunity “a tremendous honor.” Macchio, who performed at Trump’s 2025 inauguration, will also take the stage before Trump’s speech.
The rest of the Great American State Fair appears to be moving forward as planned, according to Freedom 250’s website. From June 25 to July 10, the National Mall will host pavilions for all 56 states and territories, specialty exhibits, and classic fair attractions.
For now, the president is betting that his own voice will draw the crowds the canceled concerts couldn’t.
