MAGA world is melting down after yet another star pulled out of the Great American State Fair, a Trump-backed celebration commemorating America’s 250th birthday.
Scheduled to take place on the National Mall from June 25 to July 10, the event was slated to include nine performers, organizers announced on Wednesday. But, within two days, most of the acts had publicly distanced themselves.
“I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,” Grammy-nominated vocalist Martina McBride wrote on X on Thursday. “Things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.”
“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,” the “Independence Day” singer continued. “I assure you that is not the case.”
Her post went viral, garnering more than 3 million views — and provoking sour grapes from some Trump supporters.
Richard Grenell, Trump’s envoy for special missions, grumbled on X: “You’ve always been a woke Lefty.”
“The Intolerance is coming from your side,” Grennell, who formerly helped lead the Trump-Kennedy Center, wrote in a later post. “Why can’t you people be around people that disagree with you politically?”
Others in MAGA world quickly dug up footage showing McBride performing for Democrats — including former President Barack Obama in 2009 — decrying what they saw as blatant hypocrisy.
“You sang for Obama, but not for 250 America. Thank you for showing us your true face,” one user with a profile picture of Trump wrote. Another chimed in: “Was a big fan, so disappointing you don’t care about at least half of you audience.”
Not everyone was disappointed, though.
“At this point the White House needs to have Kid Rock on retainer,” one X user responded. “Thanks for doing the right thing!”
In addition to McBride, five other artists have bowed out of the concert series, including funk group The Commodores, rapper Young MC, pop duo Milli Vanilli and singers Morris Day and Bret Michaels.
“I have informed my agents that I will not be performing at the Freedom 250 event,” Young MC, best known for his 1989 hit “Bust a Move,” wrote on Instagram. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event.”
Morris Day, the lead singer of Prince-linked band The Time, wrote on social media: “It’s a no for me.”
Meanwhile, Michaels wrote on Instagram: “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…I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.”
As a result of the flurry of withdrawals, only three acts currently remain: Vanilla Ice, C+C Music Factory and Flo Rida.
Freedom 250 is the public-private partnership organizing the event. The organization was established by President Donald Trump to help spearhead yearlong celebrations of the country’s semiquincentennial.
The organization describes itself as nonpartisan, but critics say its ties to Trump suggest otherwise.
The group is funded by Trump-aligned tech firms Oracle and Palantir, and lawmakers and watchdog groups have raised concerns about the money trail, according to previous reporting by The Independent.
Democratic lawmakers have also noted that a bipartisan commission was established by Congress to handle celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, questioning why it was bypassed. Public Citizen has likewise called for investigations following a New York Times report that donors forking over more than $1 million were offered access to the president.
Freedom 250 is also organizing a series of other events throughout the year, including a grand prix in the nation’s capital. Earlier this month, it led a prayer rally on the National Mall billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God.”
The Independent has reached out to Freedom 250 for comment.
