FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend performed the national anthem at President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair, and the reaction was far from glowing.
Alexis Wilkins, a 27-year-old country singer, belted out “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the National Mall on Wednesday during the kickoff ceremony for the celebration, which is meant to honor America’s 250th anniversary, though it featured a campaign-style speech from the president.
Organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by Trump, the event has already run into setbacks: a string of musical acts and several blue states pulled out, some citing its politicized nature.
After Wilkins’ brief performance, accompanied by a military band, reviews quickly began pouring in online.
“You can hear a better rendition at any high school ball game,” wrote one X user, while another chimed in: “They didn’t allow the autotune this time?”
“The good news is that it’s 11 pm when I’m seeing this and I’ve already taken my hearing aids out for the night,” wrote a third user.
Still, some observers were more forgiving, suggesting Wilkins could have sounded worse.
“It wasn’t the best I’ve ever heard but she didn’t do bad,” wrote one. Another added: “Well, she’s better than Lara Trump.”
Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, has also dabbled in the arts, releasing several covers and originals.
Many reactions focused less on Wilkins’ musical chops than on how she landed the role in the first place, with some suggesting she was only invited because her boyfriend is the FBI director. One wrote, “Gosh, I wonder how she got this gig?”
On Tuesday, Wilkins addressed the issue directly, responding online to concerns about her scheduled performance.
“Let’s just get a few things straight, because this is long overdue,” she wrote on X. “I have been a country music artist for years now…I was invited to sing this anthem on my own accord, as I have been many other places throughout my career.”
She added that she is not being paid for her appearance and insisted that the “National Mall celebrations” are not funded by taxpayers.
However, Freedom 250 has received $80 million in public funding, according to NOTUS, which noted that Trump created the group despite Congress having already established a bipartisan commission to plan the semiquincentennial celebrations.
Elsewhere during Wednesday’s event — which included a fighter jet flyover — Trump delivered an extended, campaign-style address.
“I am thrilled to declare that America is back,” he told the crowd gathered on the National Mall. “We are respected by everybody. Nobody is laughing at us anymore. Two years ago they were laughing. We were a joke two years ago. We’re not a joke anymore.”
The speech followed his May announcement that he was considering appearing at the celebration after several artists withdrew. “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,” he wrote on Truth Social, referring to himself.
Other members of his administration also took the stage on Wednesday, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who described Wilkins and other performers as “way better than those libtards that canceled on us!”
Many of those in attendance sported Trump-themed clothing, including MAGA hats and shirts emblazoned with the numbers “45” and “47.” One man wore a jacket that included the phrases “God save Trump” and “Trump saves America.”
