U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out against the artists who have dropped off the bill for the Great American State Fair in a Truth Social post over the weekend.
Trump suggested cancelling the concert altogether, and he also offered to replace the performers who bailed with an appearance of his own.
More than half of the original lineup dropped off the concert, which was organized by his group Freedom 250, after the bill was announced. Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC, C+C Music Factory, The Commodores and Morris Day & the Time have all departed, many of them saying they did not realize Trump had ties to the event.
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The remaining artists on the bill are Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida.
Milli Vanilli are listed on the bill, but a press release from “the original/real vocalists” of the band states that they are not performing, and anyone listed as Milli Vanilli on the advertisement “should be considered a tribute band,” per Consequence.
What Did Trump Say About the Artists Who Cancelled Their Great American State Fair Concert Appearances?
In a Truth Social post shared on Saturday (May 30), Trump criticized the artists for getting “the yips” about performing at the event.
He called them “third rate,” said that they “get paid far too much money” and “aren’t happy,” and stated that he hoped to take their spot as a headliner for the Freedom 250 Concert.
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“I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), Donald J. Trump, to take [the artists’ place],” Trump wrote.
The president went on to say that his appearance would be a “major speech” that he called the “America is Back Rally” at the same time and location where the concert was scheduled to be held.
“Only Great Patriots invited,” Trump concluded. “It will be a Wild and Beautiful Celebration of America!”
Why Did Martina McBride Drop Out Of the Great American State Fair?
McBride, who was repping the country genre at the event, dropped out of the lineup on Thursday (May 28.)
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She said that she went into the event believing it to be nonpartisan, and wasn’t aware that it had ties to Trumps’ Freedom 250 group.
“I’ve spent my entire career singing songs about real people with real issues. I’ve ben blessed with the opportunity to be a voice for those who have felt like they didn’t have one,” McBride added. “It greatly upsets me that any fan who has been moved by my music may now feel like I’m abandoning the meaning behind those songs”
Other artists who left the bill echoed similar statements. Rapper Young MC said that artists weren’t informed about the political ties behind the event.
What Have the Remaining Acts on the Bill Said About the Great American State Fair?
Vanilla Ice, one of the two remaining acts on the bill, issued a statement on Instagram saying the event was “not a political platform,” but simply an event to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Flo Rida has not issued a public statement on the controversial festival as of Sunday afternoon (May 31.)
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