The Great American State Fair hasn't even started yet and it's already lost most of its announced lineup — and gained an unlikely headliner.

Freedom 250 — the nonprofit launched by President Trump to plan the country's 250th anniversary celebrations — unveiled its first wave of performers for the 16-day event on the National Mall on May 27. Within 24 hours artists started pulling out, citing the same complaint: they say they were never told the event had political ties.

As of Sunday, Morris Day, Young MC, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Martina McBride, and Bret Michaels have all withdrawn. Trump then responded on Truth Social by calling the departing artists "overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain" — and suggested canceling the concert series entirely before pivoting to announce he would headline it himself.

Freedom 250 confirmed Saturday evening that Trump will personally kick off the fair at its opening ceremony on June 24. "As the visionary behind the Great American State Fair, we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration," Freedom 250 spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.

Who's Out and Why

Morris Day of Morris Day and The Time posted a simple "It's A No For Me" on Instagram without elaborating.

Young MC was more specific. "The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event," he wrote on Facebook. "And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged."

Milli Vanilli singer Jodie Rocco told the Associated Press the group wasn't even contacted to perform — she said she and her sister were "shocked" to see their name on the performer list.

The Commodores kept it brief. "Our music has always been our voice and we choose not to publicly affiliate with any single political party. We support the betterment of all Americans."

Martina McBride described being actively misled about what she was signing on for. "I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special," she wrote on Instagram. "Yesterday things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening." She said she had been "presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading" and assured fans she wasn't abandoning the meaning behind her music.

Bret Michaels, originally set to perform July 3, cited both the event becoming "divisive" and threats against his loved ones. "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," the former Poison frontman wrote.

Who's Still In

C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, and Flo Rida are still listed as performers. Even C+C Music Factory's situation is complicated — frontman Freedom Williams posted a seven-minute rant saying he initially planned to drop out but decided to stay to prove he wasn't bothered by the backlash. The band then posted separately distancing itself from his comments, saying it "stands neutral" and telling Williams to "vent on his personal page."

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum pushed back on accusations of partisanship Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. "The president plays a key figure in helping to again celebrate, kick off and be at the opening of these events. It's very appropriate," he said.

Freedom 250 spokesperson Rachel Reisner said the organization is "dedicated to uniting Americans around the nation's 250th anniversary" and described the fair as welcoming "all who share our goal of commemorating this milestone in a way that uplifts and unites America."

What the Fair Actually Is

Freedom 250 is a separate entity from the congressionally established U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which operates as America 250. It was launched by Trump and is currently led by Keith Krach, a former State Department appointee from Trump's first term — a connection that several departing artists say was not disclosed to them when they were originally approached.

The Great American State Fair runs June 25 through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Admission is free with optional online registration. The 16-day event includes a Ferris wheel, carousel, rodeo, livestock competitions, and daily themed programming covering topics from agriculture to faith to innovation to Independence Day. Freedom 250 also has World Cup watch parties, an IndyCar race, and a high school athletic competition planned as part of the broader semiquincentennial programming.

Whether enough performers remain on the lineup to fill 16 days of entertainment is now an open question. The fair is three weeks away — and the president is now its headliner.

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