US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (05/30/2026) that he was considering headlining a rally in Washington after several artists canceled their participation in the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Shortly after being announced in a series of concerts around the July 4 holiday, several musical groups withdrew from participating, some of them alleging the politicization of the event.
The events were scheduled to begin June 25 as part of a large expo on the National Mall organized by Freedom 250, a public-private entity backed by Trump.
“I’m thinking about bringing in the number one attraction anywhere in the world, the man who draws audiences much larger than Elvis in his prime… and the man who some say is the greatest president in history,” Trump posted on Truth Social, referring to himself.
Trump attacks artists
He also noted that he could “take the place of these third-rate and well-paid ‘artists’.”
The president added that he asked his advisors to evaluate “the viability” of holding a rally called “AMERICA IS BACK” (“The United States is back”).
“On Wednesday, in Washington, at the same time and in the same place,” he added, where “only the great patriots are invited.” The Republican did not specify the date or what event he was referring to.
The statement came a day after several artists, including country singer Martina McBride, The Commodores and rocker Bret Michaels, frontman of the band Poison, pulled out of White House-backed events.
Artists say they were “deceived”
“Sadly, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has turned into something much more divisive than I ever accepted it to be,” Michaels posted on Facebook.
Other artists have also stated that they were misled about the theme of the concerts or that they were wary of being involved in a political dispute. McBride, in a statement on Instagram, claimed that he had “been offered the opportunity to perform at a supposedly nonpartisan event, but that the information turned out to be misleading.”
Trump has tried to leave his stamp on the celebrations. One of them includes a mixed martial arts fight in a specially located arena on the grounds of the White House that will take place on June 14, the day of his 80th birthday.
jc (afp, ap)
