Trump Confirms Mass Rally, Scraps US 250th Anniversary Concerts
"All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!" he said.
President Donald Trump says Washington will host a massive rally on 24 June to mark America’s 250th anniversary, after planned concerts were scrapped when several performers withdrew.
“In celebration of our Country’s 250 Year History, we will be bringing you, LIVE, the Greatest Rally, EVER! It will be special at every level – A Rally to end all Rallies!” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social network.
- Advertisement -
“We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home,” added the 79-year-old Republican.
“All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!” he said.
A banner celebrating aviation is displayed ahead of America’s 250th birthday celebration
Mr Trump said the event would also include US military bands and choruses, “all of your favourite Hits, PLUS a fine and highly dignified gentleman known as, President DONALD J TRUMP!”
He had earlier floated the idea of a rally for his ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) movement, though he made no mention of that in yesterday’s announcement.
The Republican billionaire has sought to leave a personal imprint on America’s 250th birthday festivities, most notably by planning a mixed martial arts fight in a specially built arena on the White House lawn on 14 June – his 80th birthday.
But the wider celebration has run into mounting difficulties.
Not long after they were unveiled as performers in a Washington concert series tied to the 4 July holiday, several musical acts pulled out, with some pointing to the event’s politicisation.
Among them are country singer Martina McBride and glam rocker Bret Michaels, the frontman of 1980s band Poison.
The concerts had been due to begin on 25 June as part of major National Mall events organised by Freedom 250, a public-private entity backed by President Trump.
The artists still on the bill, including Vanilla Ice and C+C Music Factory, have prompted a wave of sarcastic reaction across social media.
