Show Caption
It's only been a day since the “first wave” of performers for The Great American State Fair, organized by President Donald Trump-backed Freedom 250, was announced, and multiple performers have already pulled out of the show, claiming they were not made aware of its political affiliation.Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner, in a statement to USA TODAY on May 28, said the organization is "dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation's 250th anniversary.""Freedom 250 is focused on our signature celebrations and events that honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America," Reisner added.Here's a look at which performers have pulled out and those that are still set to take the stage.Who has pulled out of performing at Freedom 250's Great American State Fair?Morris Day and Young MC, on May 27, announced they would not be taking part in the event scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10."It’s A No For Me😎," Day of Morris Day and The Time said in a May 27 post on Instagram. The artist did not elaborate further on why he was backing out.Young MC, in a May 27 post on Facebook, said he had informed his agents he would not be performing at the "Freedom 250 event."“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event," the rapper said in his post. "And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”R&B group Milli Vanilli also bowed out of the upcoming concert, with singer Jodie Rocco telling The Associated Press in an email on May 28 that the group was not contacted to perform at the event."My sister and I were shocked to see our name, 'Milli Vanilli,' as one of the performers," Rocco told the outlet.The Commodores announced they're out as well, sharing the news in a May 28 Instagram post, "The Commodores will not be performing at the Great American State Fair.""Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans," the post reads.Initially set to perform on June 25, country musician Martina McBride later dropped out on May 28, writing on X that she was misled into believing she would be performing at a "non-partisan event.""I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome even. Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening," she wrote.She continued: "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. I assure you, that is not the case. I appreciate every single fan who has reached out. I hope to get back to the DC area very soon."Who is still performing at Freedom 250's Great American State Fair?Artists listed to perform at the Freedom 250 event, who have not yet commented, according to the group's post on X, so far include:C+C Music Factory (June 26)Vanilla Ice (June 26)Flo Rida (July 2)Bret Michaels (July 3)The organization's X post suggested additional names to come.Although C+C Music Factory is still slated to perform, frontman Freedom Williams, in a seven-minute rant posted to Facebook and his personal Instagram account, said he initially planned to drop out of the show after learning about Trump's involvement but decided to go ahead with the gig to show he was unbothered by the backlash by angry commenters.Later, C&C Music Factory, in a May 28 post on Instagram, said, it "does not participate nor side with any specific political party.""WE stand neutral when it comes to sides. We side with Global Love & Peace," the band said, adding Freedom Williams was "solely misrepresenting C&C Music Factory" and advised him to "vent on his personal page and know that."What is the Great American State Fair?Day and Young MC, along with Martina McBride, Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice, were among the list of performers scheduled to appear during the 16-day Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, DC.The fair, which will run from June 25 through July 10, is being organized by Freedom 250, a nonprofit group Trump created to plan the semiquincentennial celebration. It’s among the many events planned by Freedom 250 for the Nation's Capital, including World Cup watch parties, an IndyCar race and an athletic competition for high schoolers.The event will transform the National Mall into "the biggest, boldest state fair in the country," according to the group's website. Scheduled attractions include a Ferris wheel and carousel; rodeo and livestock competitions are also planned.How to attend Freedom 250's Great American State FairThe Great American State Fair is open to the public. While walkups are welcome, you can register for free tickets on the Freedom 250 website. Your ticket will show activities planned for each of the 16 days, with music also mentioned for July 4.Here's a lineup of the daily programming themes:Thursday, June 25 – The American Canon: Opening DayFriday, June 26 – Land & Prosperity (agriculture)Saturday, June 27 – The American Canvas (arts)Sunday, June 28 – Military & Veterans Appreciation DayMonday, June 29 – Everyday Health and Well BeingTuesday, June 30 – Future of America (innovation)Wednesday, July 1 – Faith, Values, and InspirationThursday, July 2 – Horsepower of America (machinery)Friday, July 3 – Wings of Freedom (flight)Saturday, July 4 – Independence Day CelebrationSunday, July 5 – Heritage & Legacy (culture)Monday, July 6 – Longevity, Innovation & the Future of HealthTuesday, July 7 – Future of America (education)Wednesday, July 8 – Family Life and Community SupportThursday, July 9 – Engines of Enterprise (industry)Friday, July 10 – The Next 250 (innovation)This story was updated to add new information.Contributing: Karissa Waddick, Edward Segarra / USA TODAYMike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
