Trump to headline 'Great American State Fair' for nation's 250th anniversary after artists drop out

Source: AP

By JESSE BEDAYN and COLLIN BINKLEY
Updated 6:25 PM CDT, May 30, 2026
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WASHINGTON (AP) — An upcoming celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, “The Great American State Fair,” recently had several musical guests back out partly over the event’s ties to President Donald Trump. Now, Trump himself is slated to headline the festivities, the organizers said Saturday.

“I understand Artists are getting ‘the yips’ having to do with their performance,” Trump posted to his social media platform Truth Social Saturday, adding that he was thinking of bringing “the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate ‘Artists.’”

The group organizing the June fair on Washington’s National Mall, Freedom 250, confirmed the billing in a statement, writing, “we are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24.”

Trump’s social media post twice referenced him holding a rally “Wednesday,” without a specific date. The White House did not immediately clarify the discrepancy.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-fair-250-anniversary-great-american-musicians-66bae27bc720c6882d8e73ce4a81efe6