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A spokesperson for the Great American State Fair reacted to multiple artists cancelling Freedom 250 concerts due to the event’s association with President Donald Trump.
“[The event is] really about the Americans that are going to show up to celebrate our country. That’s what it’s really about,” Freedom 250 spokesperson Julia Friedland told DC News Now’s Sunrise on the Hill on Friday, May 29. “We come together as Americans to celebrate our country.”
The Great American State Fair will be a 16-day celebration of America’s 250th anniversary in Washington D.C., featuring Independence Day celebrations on July 4, exhibitions, parades and a controversial UFC event at the White House.
A series of Freedom 250 concerts are billed as “nonpartisan” events, though questions have been raised since the group’s website includes pictures of the president, 79, and first lady Melania Trump. Freedom 250 lists the White House and numerous government agencies — including the Departments of Homeland Security and War — among its “founding government members,” as well as corporations linked to the Trump administration, such as Palantir, UFC and Oracle, as sponsors.
Bret Michaels on stage at Tree Town Music Festival. Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Tree Town Music Festival
As the Great American State Fair has taken shape, country music icon Martina McBride, rocker Bret Michaels and more artists booked for the Freedom 250 concerts have pulled out to avoid controversy.
“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” Michaels, 63, said in a statement on Thursday, May 28. “Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.”
McBride, 59, confirmed via Instagram that she too was “presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading.”
During Friday’s Sunrise on the Hill appearance, Freedom 250 spokesperson Friedland responded directly to the artists who’ve cancelled their appearances.
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“You know, we’re all united by the fact that we are Americans and we should be proud of our country. I certainly know I am,” she said. “We live in the best country on Earth, and this will be a celebration of our country. And it’ll be, it’ll have fun for everyone. Like I said, the FIFA Fan Zone, we have activations from sponsors such as Northrop Grumman, John Deere. They actually are joining us to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. So there will be activations, fun for kids, for adults, for families alike.”
Friedland was asked whether artists knew about Freedom 250’s connections to the Trump administration when they were originally booked.
“I can’t speak to negotiations that were made for performers. But what I can say is we’re selling it the same way to every single person in this country,” she responded. “This is a celebration of America, 250 years, glorious years. It’s inherently nonpolitical. We’re coming together to celebrate our country. We live in the best country on Earth, and we’re putting on a huge birthday party because America deserves it. And it is free and open to the public. And everyone is invited.”
Pressed further on whether Freedom 250 is genuinely nonpartisan, Friedland insisted that there is nothing “partisan about America being around for 250 years.”
Brantley Gilbert is standing by his decision to perform in Turning Point USA’s rival halftime show. “For those asking ‘who is Brantley Gilbert?’ and ‘why is he playing this event?’” the country singer, 41, wrote in a lengthy statement shared via X on Friday, February 6. “I’m a songwriter who grew up, and still lives […]
“We have a history, obviously, but we have a president that wants to celebrate 250 years of America. And that’s exactly what we’re doing. ,” she said. “And that’s how it was sold to performers. We’ll have military bands, military ensembles as well.”
The Freedom 250 spokesperson added, “We will have representatives from every state and territory in the United States to come and represent their culture, what makes their state and territory unique. So it sold the same way to everyone that we’re celebrating America’s 250th birthday. We’ll have military bands, orchestras, talented performers. We will be announcing more in the coming weeks and days, and we will have something for everyone there.”
Not all of the acts booked for Freedom 250 have cancelled their appearances at the Great American State Fair, as Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida and Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli are all still scheduled to perform during the music festival.
Sunrise on The Hill airs on DC News Now at 6 a.m. ET weekdays.
