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The United States (US) President Donald Trump is expected to headline an event marking the country’s 250th anniversary at the National Mall next month.
The organisers disclosed the news to The Washington Post in an interview. The event is part of the Great American State Fair, a 16-day celebration scheduled to run from June 25 to July 10, 2026. It is organised by the Freedom 250 group and will take place across the National Mall, stretching from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument, featuring concert stages, state pavilions, rides and exhibitions.
However, the celebration has been affected by the withdrawal of several musical performers; at least five artists have declined to perform at the planned concerts, stating concerns about the event’s association with Trump.
One of them, Bret Michaels of the rock band Poison, said on Friday the event was not the nonpartisan celebration he initially believed it to be. Organisers have not fully explained the reasons for the cancellations, but the withdrawals have cast doubt on the original plans for the concert series.
Despite this, adviser to Freedom 250, Danielle Alvarez, confirmed that Trump will still play a major role in the event.
“Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24 in an opening ceremony celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” she said.
Meanwhile, in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump suggested the concert series may no longer be needed if performers continue to withdraw.
“The fact is that I am, according to many, the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote.
He also claimed he draws “much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime” and said he does so “without a guitar.” The US President added that he is considering an “America Is Back” rally on the National Mall rather than a concert format.
Freedom 250, a public-private partnership working with the White House, is coordinating the national anniversary celebrations.
