Trump pitches himself as ‘Number One Attraction’ after artists withdraw from festival

EntertainmentPolitics
31 May 2026 • 2:04 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Trump pitches himself as ‘Number One Attraction’ after artists withdraw from festival

  • President Donald Trump announced he would perform at the Freedom 250 concert series, part of the Great American State Fair, after several musicians withdrew.
  • Multiple artists, including Bret Michaels and Martina McBride, pulled out, citing concerns that the event had become divisive and politically charged.
  • The president criticized the departing musicians, suggesting they had “the yips” and proclaiming himself “the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World.”
  • He instructed his team to investigate the feasibility of holding an “AMERICA IS BACK Rally” in Washington, D.C., at the same time as the concert series.
  • Confusion emerged regarding the nonpartisan nature of the 250th-anniversary celebrations, with two organizations, America250 and Freedom 250 (established by the Trump administration), involved.

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