# Freedom 250 - The Great American State Fair **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 29, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470 "2026-05-29T03:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/41 "2026-05-29T19:26:10Z")
Recent events have led me to Napoleon Bonaspurs. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/42 "2026-05-29T19:27:04Z")
Oooh! Protest sign! And I could draw an amazing picture to go with it. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/43 "2026-05-29T19:42:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The US did not celebrate its 50th birthday. Not in that way, anyway. Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed away on July 4, 1826, so the days after were nationally more about mourning than celebration ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/44 "2026-05-29T19:46:28Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams passed away on July 4, 1826, so the days after were nationally more about mourning than celebration See? SEE?!?! It was so bad it **KILLED TWO OF OUR FOUNDING FATHERS**!!! No more of this! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/45 "2026-05-29T19:58:17Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > And then there’s the fact that I’ve never seen him wearing a suit that fits properly. At least, not recently. If you look at pictures of him from the '80s, he looked well-dressed in well-fitting business suits…but then, he also wasn’t overweight back then, nor was he wearing his tie well past his belt buckle. This is him, with Herschel Walker, in 1983. [![](https://www.dailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2017/201701/NEWS_170109943_EP_-1_VJRDERFRTDNP.jpg?w=620) ](https://www.dailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2017/201701/NEWS_170109943_EP_-1_VJRDERFRTDNP.jpg?w=620) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/46 "2026-05-29T20:03:42Z")
I read Brett Michaels’ notice this morning, and [Martina McBride’s notice](https://www.instagram.com/p/DY5s4J5qPRj/) just now. Both of them mention that they thought the celebration was one thing but it turned out to be something else. I haven’t seen any info anywhere on what is causing these performers to pull out and what they feel is so partisan about it. I read the page linked in the OP and on the surface it does seem like a big ol’ state fair. Nothing partisan about it (and I found it crazy that if this administration is pulling the strings that there will be a Latin Jazz performance). It does indeed seem to be being put on by a non-partisan group (they say so on the website!) So I am wildly curious about what is going on behind the scenes to make these performers drop out. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/47 "2026-05-29T20:09:48Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It does indeed seem to be being put on by a non-partisan group (they say so on the website!) > > So I am wildly curious about what is going on behind the scenes to make these performers drop out. It looks like that whole “non-partisan group” was a big fat lie (or, at least, obscured who was behind it), and which finally came unraveled. > [@](#): > > Freedom 250, which Trump launched late last year, describes itself as a “national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday.” Trump appointed Keith Krach, who served as an under secretary of state during his first term, as the organization’s CEO. > **[Martina McBride, Morris Day among wave of cancellations at Trump-linked...](https://apnews.com/article/freedom-250-milli-vanilli-young-mc-bb9c58cb68d3af91cd8aeb5c5c5d26a1)** > > Martina McBride, Morris Day, the Commodores and Young MC have all announced they will not perform at “The Great American State Fair” on Washington's National Mall. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/48 "2026-05-29T20:15:02Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It does indeed seem to be being put on by a non-partisan group (they say so on the website!) > > So I am wildly curious about what is going on behind the scenes to make these performers drop out. See my post #7 about the Trump-aligned “Freedom 250” taking over more and more of the limelight (and funding) from the originally commissioned, genuinely nonpartisan “America 250”, [as described in Wiki:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Semiquincentennial) > [@](#): > > In July 2021, the America250 Foundation made public its website as well as its marketing campaign, which initially consisted of advertisements in more than 4,559 locations in the four “leading cities” […] > > On August 1, 2024, the Semiquincentennial Commission announced that former presidents [George W. Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush) and [Barack Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama), as well as their spouses, former first ladies [Laura Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bush) and [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama), will serve as the commission’s honorary national co-chairs. > > By 2025, Trump was criticized for taking more control over the non-partisan congressional America250 organization. He installed [Fox News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_News) producer Ariel Abergel and Trump campaign officials as leaders, dropped contractors with ties to Democrats, partnered with conservative organization [PragerU](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PragerU) to provide educational materials for festivities, and had America250 partner with a cryptocurrency event featuring his two sons. The committee also partnered with conservative organization [Moms for Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moms_for_Liberty), and allowed its “America250” branding to be used at Trump rallies. Giant banners with Trump’s face and “America250” branding were hung alongside [Theodore Roosevelt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt) at the Department of Labor headquarters in Washington, D.C. A letter to Rios and Abergel by all of the Democratic lawmakers on the commission wrote that: “Unfortunately, recent America250 funded and branded events have been partisan and have not served America250’s purpose and mission of uniting us as a nation.” […] > > By the end of 2025, $10 million worth of funding towards America250 was diverted to Freedom 250’s “Freedom Trucks”. In early 2026, Representative [Bonnie Watson Coleman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_Watson_Coleman) stated that America250 had only received $25 million of its congressionally appropriated $150 million, and was concerned the remainder would be reallocated to the Trump-aligned Freedom 250. I don’t know how many of the performers were originally approached by America 250 spokespeople, but if they were I wouldn’t be surprised if the increasingly aggressive self-aggrandizement of the Freedom 250 group later turned them off. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/49 "2026-05-29T20:17:05Z")
Ooooooh. That explains it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/50 "2026-05-29T20:21:05Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It looks like that whole “non-partisan group” was a big fat lie (or, at least, obscured who was behind it), and which finally came unraveled. The whole affair is the most embarrising thing any administration has done. And Donald Trump is in charge. So that means it will be a colosal fuck up. In every way shape and form. A UFC cage match? On the White House Lawn? Did DJT ever mature past 4th grade? The performers may be b/c listers from the 90’s but they are not THAT stupid. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/51 "2026-05-29T20:26:37Z")
> **[Trump’s Stock Purchases Expose Massive Grift in UFC White House Fight](https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/trump-uses-white-house-ufc-181439256.html)** > > The president has made another perfectly timed stock purchase. How lucky! > President Donald Trump bought stock in the UFC’s parent company ahead of the planned fight on the White House lawn next month. > > The president bought between $15,000 and $50,000 of stock in TKO Group Holdings, HuffPost [reports](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ufc-stock-white-house-fight_n_6a19b50be4b0dade602f5c5c?xe), citing Trump’s May 12 financial disclosures. With the planned “Freedom 250” fight on June 14 (Flag Day and Trump’s birthday), the company will get a ton of publicity and media attention, allowing the president to profit as TKO stock goes up. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/52 "2026-05-29T20:45:39Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > > The president bought between $15,000 and $50,000 of stock in TKO Group Holdings, HuffPost [reports](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ufc-stock-white-house-fight_n_6a19b50be4b0dade602f5c5c?xe), citing Trump’s May 12 financial disclosures. With the planned “Freedom 250” fight on June 14 (Flag Day and Trump’s birthday), the company will get a ton of publicity and media attention, allowing the president to profit as TKO stock goes up. Which is clearly insider trading and a major crime. On the other hand, since he is doing this event as a “presidential duty” he’s immune to personal legal trouble per the SCOTUS “we are now a monarchy” ruling and everything is fine. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/53 "2026-05-29T20:46:01Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > They’re doing it again this year. As it happens, some of the ship’s will be anchored right outside our window (literally) here on the North Shore of Boston. I’m expecting my ship to be here, but don’t know where she’ll be berthed. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/54 "2026-05-29T20:53:07Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > They should invite Ted Nugent to perform [Jailbait](https://genius.com/Ted-nugent-jailbait-live-lyrics). It would be the perfect topping for this shit sundae. And Kid Rock can sing his pedo song “Cool, Daddy Cool,” > “Young ladies, young ladies, I like ‘em underage. See some say that’s statutory, but I say it’s mandatory!”” They should make this whole thing a Pedo Friendly concert. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/55 "2026-05-29T22:16:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Queen Elizabeth II made a _brief_ visit to New Haven in July 1976. We stood on a sidewalk to catch a glimpse of her in her car. So _you_ were that Alfred E. Neuman lookalike I saw across the street! And she was turning to wave at you instead of us on our side of the street. Hrrmph. I blame you for ruining our glimpse of her that day. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/56 "2026-05-29T22:30:48Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > So I am wildly curious about what is going on behind the scenes to make these performers drop out. I imagine that they received a ton of messages after the announcement. Some praising them for being patriotic and some threatening to quit listening to them if they participate. Unless someone is rabidly pro or anti Trump, they don’t want to alienate a portion of their audience. If they didn’t realize what they were signing up for, this probably caught them by surprise. Here are suggestions from Fox News for who should be invited in their place. Hint: the only criteria is that they would kiss Trump’s ass. > **[Five artists President Donald Trump should call to perform at Freedom 250...](https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-culture/five-artists-president-donald-trump-call-perform-freedom-250-concert-summer)** > > After artists pulled out of the Freedom 250 concert, here are five acts who could rock America's 250th birthday celebration at the White House. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/57 "2026-05-29T22:48:32Z")
Well I’m not clicking a Faux link to find out who Faux recommends. You’ve already clicked it, why not just say who it is? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/58 "2026-05-29T22:53:39Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > They should make this whole thing a Pedo Friendly concert. _Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Semiquincentennial Celebration for the Children_ ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/59 "2026-05-29T23:12:36Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > why not just say who it is? The mega maga stars Kid Rock, Megadeth, Lil Wayne, KISS, Ted Nugent. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/60 "2026-05-29T23:55:35Z")
Megadeth is actually worth seeing live. I don’t know if Dave (the frontman) is right wing or not, but I doubt he’d be a puppet for Trump.[https://youtu.be/wEPKIulCEhQ?si=gh8DEVl9vkIKKjZq](https://youtu.be/wEPKIulCEhQ?si=gh8DEVl9vkIKKjZq) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=4)