President Trump has announced plans to host an “America Is Back” rally at Washington, D.C.’s Great American State Fair in place of high-profile musicians who have withdrawn from the event.
In a recent post, Trump stated he is considering taking center stage without a guitar, claiming his audience surpasses Elvis’s peak. He described himself as “the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime” and emphasized he would rally Americans with “Happy People, Smart People, Successful People, and People that know how to WIN.” Trump noted artists reportedly experienced what he called “the yips” after Wednesday’s performance and ordered his representatives to evaluate the feasibility of holding the rally at the same time and location on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
The event, organized by Freedom 250—a nonprofit created by the Trump administration to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary—has seen multiple performers withdraw. Among those who have declined to participate are Poison frontman Bret Michaels, country singer Martina McBride, and R&B group The Commodores.
Trump also criticized the Kennedy Center as “broken, unsafe, and $busted,” accusing federal Judge Cooper of being “crooked” and deserving of impeachment. He stated his involvement with the center was blocked by judicial intervention.
Freedom 250 officials have maintained their event is nonpartisan and focused on celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, featuring concerts, a veterans’ salute, and a “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
According to sources familiar with event planning, Trump was originally expected to headline a July Fourth event at the fair and now will take charge of the opening ceremony.
