A growing wave of high-profile musical artists have pulled out of the Great American State Fair, a 16-day national celebration planned for Washington D.C.’s National Mall to mark the United States’ 250th birthday, after multiple performers claimed event organizers misled them about the festival’s conservative political origins. The event, scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10, is being organized by Freedom 250, a non-profit group that formally launched last year under the oversight of the former Trump administration, with its chief executive Keith Krach directly appointed by ex-President Donald Trump.
When Freedom 250 publicly unveiled its full performer lineup Wednesday, artists quickly began severing ties with the event over allegations that they had signed on under false pretenses of a non-partisan national celebration. 1980s hip-hop star Young MC, best known for his chart-topping hit *Bust a Move*, was among the first artists to announce his withdrawal. In a social media post, he explained that performers were never informed of the event’s political connections, adding that he would only perform in the nation’s capital for an event that is not overly politically charged.
He was soon joined by fellow R&B legend Morris Day, who shared a clear statement on Instagram writing, “Contrary To Rumor, Morris Day & The Time Will Not Be Performing At The ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR’” with the simple caption, “It’s A No For Me.” By the following day, more big names had followed suit. Iconic funk group The Commodores announced their exit in a social media post, noting that their music has always stood above partisan politics, and they choose not to formally align with any single political party, adding that their core commitment remains to advancing the well-being of all Americans.
Country star Martina McBride echoed those concerns, writing on X that she had been offered a spot at what was described as a non-partisan gathering, only to learn that framing was misleading. Rock vocalist Bret Michaels, frontman of 1980s hair metal band Poison, also pulled out, releasing a lengthy statement explaining that what was initially presented as a unifying celebration of the nation had shifted into something far more divisive than what he agreed to join. Michaels also cited unaddressed safety concerns as an additional factor in his decision to withdraw.
Despite the mass exodus, a handful of artists still plan to take the stage as originally scheduled. Rapper Vanilla Ice, famous for his breakout hit *Ice Ice Baby*, defended his decision to perform in an Instagram video caption, arguing that the event is not a political platform and exists solely to celebrate America’s anniversary. Fab Morvan, one of the original public faces of 1980s pop group Milli Vanilli, will also keep his performance slot – though the act’s original vocalists quickly clarified that they would not appear, noting that any performance under the Milli Vanilli name without them would qualify as a tribute act, a reference to the infamous 1990s lip-synching scandal that brought down the original group. 1990s dance collective C+C Music Factory member Freedom Williams also confirmed he will still perform, even as he made clear he does not support Donald Trump.
Event organizers Freedom 250 have pushed back on claims of partisan alignment, insisting the non-profit is exclusively dedicated to uniting Americans around the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. In a formal statement, the group said it respects the decisions of artists who choose to withdraw, and reaffirmed that it remains strictly non-partisan. As of press time, the organization has not yet announced any updates or changes to the public lineup. Spokeswoman Rachel Reisner said in a statement that the U.S. has too much history and progress worth celebrating to allow political noise and division to overshadow the milestone event, adding that the group is still looking forward to welcoming millions of visitors from across the country to a festival that belongs to all Americans.
The Great American State Fair is one of several high-profile 250th anniversary events backed by the current White House to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this July. Other planned events include a professional UFC fight hosted on the White House South Lawn, a Grand Prix motor race set to take place in Washington D.C. this coming August, and the release of a limited-edition series of commemorative U.S. passports that feature a formal portrait of Donald Trump on the cover.