US President Donald Trump has taken on a new role – headliner – for the 250th Independence Day celebration on July 4. After several musicians dropped out, citing concerns over the event's political nature, Trump announced he would be the main attraction.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Trump made the decision after arriving at his private golf club in Sterling, Virginia, on Saturday. He referred to himself as 'the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World,' claiming he draws larger audiences than Elvis in his prime.
The event, billed as the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, will run for more than two weeks starting in late June. It will feature a 110-foot Ferris wheel and performances by several musical stars, including country singer Martina McBride and rocker Bret Michaels.
However, Michaels and several other performers withdrew from the event, citing concerns over its safety and divisiveness. Trump responded by calling the dropped performers 'highly paid, Third Rate 'Artists'' and claimed his speech would rally the country forward.
The Great American State Fair was initially conceived as a celebration of all 50 states and territories, with individual pavilions showcasing each state's unique flavor. However, critics argue that the event caters to Trump's MAGA fans and is not nonpartisan, as claimed by the Trump-aligned group Freedom 250.
Another group, America250, was established by Congress as a bipartisan initiative and is hosting its own events, including a New Year's Eve-like ball drop in New York's Times Square.
