Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe White House-run Freedom 250 organization, tasked with celebrating America's 250th birthday, is facing scrutiny over its perceived partisan nature and funding transparency. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a leader of Freedom 250, dodged questions about making private donations to the event public during a CNN interview. Burgum attempted to counter the event's partisan reputation, despite performers withdrawing due to concerns about its political alignment. The president has exacerbated partisan perceptions by referring to the celebration as a "Make America Great Again rally" and criticizing the withdrawal of artists. The Freedom 250 celebration is planned to include a UFC match and a "Great American State Fair" on the National Mall. In fullTrump cabinet member struggles to explain funding and purpose of president’s own 250th US anniversary projectThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

Musical artists' cancellations from a Donald Trump-linked U.S. celebration in Washington continue the Republican president’s tense history with the entertainment industry

Confusion about the difference between the two groups swirled this week after some of the artists who were billed as performing at Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair backed…

US President Donald Trump has suggested replacing a planned concert series marking the United States’ 250th anniversary with a political-style rally after a string of performers…