America’s 250th birthday celebration takes a Trump-centric turn 

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The country’s upcoming semiquincentennial celebration has fallen subject to partisan tensions as President Trump appears set to headline the start of the multi-week festival later this month.  

Trump said in a Truth Social post on Saturday that he wants to hold a rally in Washington, D.C., to mark the country’s 250th birthday instead of a planned concert, after more than a half dozen musical acts pulled out of the “Great American State Fair” on the National Mall. 

“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,” Trump said. 

A Freedom 250 spokesperson confirmed the planned address on June 24, calling Trump “the visionary behind the Great American State Fair.” 

The artists and music groups initially announced as part of the lineup either denied that they were involved or said they were misled about the political nature of the event. They include The Commodores, country singer Martina McBride and rock-and-roller Bret Michaels. 

Rapper Vanilla Ice confirmed he does plan to participate, while Flo Rida has been mum on his plans and a couple other groups have sent mixed messages. 

It could be moot, as Trump on Sunday called to scrap the concert entirely.  

“Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center,” Trump said in his Truth Social post, referring to his decision to yield authority over the center’s upkeep to Congress after a judge blocked his takeover.  

Freedom 250, the nonprofit created to organize the anniversary events, has maintained that it is nonpartisan and has no ties to the White House. A spokesperson for the organization previously said in a statement in response to the backlash that the group’s goal is to “honor our history and engage all Americans — welcoming all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America.” 

Freedom 250 CEO Keith Krach was an undersecretary at the State Department during Trump’s first term. Trump launched the organization as a public-private partnership last year. 

Trump’s plan to hold a political rally to kick off festivities could further undermine Freedom 250’s contention that it’s apolitical.  

Trump plans to hold a UFC fight on the White House lawn on June 14, which is Flag Day and his 80th birthday. Dana White, the head of the UFC, has also contended that event is “not at all” political.  

The president also plans to hold an IndyCar race through the streets of the capital in August. He’s also been pushing for the construction of a 250-foot triumphal arch, which has been the subject of legal challenges, and pushing to put his face on a $250 bill. 

Presidential historians told The Hill’s Mallory Wilson that some of Trump’s moves recognizing the U.S.’s birthday aren’t completely without precedent, pointing to some actions from former Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Gerald Ford during the 150th and 200th birthdays, respectively. 

But others argued Trump is going too far. 

“Donald Trump and his henchmen have sabotaged what should be a unifying moment and appear intent on instead creating a highly divisive, corporate-funded, ideologically extremist exercise,” Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, told Wilson in a statement. 

▪ The Hill: Political tensions, security concerns run high for America 250. 

▪ The Hill: What to know about ‘UFC 250’ at the White House. 

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