If at first you don't get it, just do it yourself. After the swift and embarrassing failure of the Great American State Fair concert series on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the country's 250th anniversary, President Trump declared that he would simply give the people what he thought they wanted all along: him.
On Thursday (June 4), Trump officially canceled the concerts (scheduled for June 25 - July 10) after most of the nine originally announced performers pulled out due to the concert's affiliation with Freedom 250, a nonprofit created by the Trump administration's task force to plan and execute all official events commemorating the country's sesquicentennial.
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The former reality TV star, tireless in his onstage speeches, announced on his platform, Truth Social, that he would be the headline act of "the rally to end all rallies." The performance would take place on June 24, and in announcing his backup plan, Trump used the opportunity to criticize the original lineup, which was scheduled to feature a wide range of artists from the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, including Poison frontman Bret Michaels, Morris Day & the Time, Young MC, Milli Vanilli, Martina McBride, and The Commodores.
«"We don't need talentless singers paying huge fees to put you to sleep, we've told them all to stay home," Trump wrote. "All we need is you, me, some speakers, and the greatest music of all time, the same music you've been listening to for years." At the time of publication, the shortened list of artists scheduled for the series appeared to be limited to Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida, and possibly rapper Freedom Williams of C&C Music Factory, though it appears only the MAGA-supporting rapper and "Ice Ice Baby" singer continued to advertise his participation.
The updated lineup, which sounds like a live rendition of Trump's favorite oldies playlist at his political rallies, will feature 83-year-old country singer Lee Greenwood, performing his 1984 anthem "God Bless the USA," and New York Tenors opera singer Christopher Macchio, who will perform classics like "Nussun Dorma," "Ave Maria," and "God Bless America.".
«"Not since the legendary Luciano Pavarotti has there been a voice like this!" the president boasted of the singer, who will take the stage alongside the U.S. Army Band, the Armed Forces Chorus, the U.S. Marine Corps' own band, and the Combined Armed Forces Chorus, which Trump promised will perform "all your favorite hits.".
And since Trump is Trump, of course the main star will be... Trump himself.
«"PLUS the fine and worthy gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump!" he concluded, referring to the evening's main event. News of the new opening speech/concert came four days after Trump announced he was going to "cancel" it, apparently referring to all concerts celebrating the 250th anniversary of freedom.
At press time, the event's official website promised "territorial pavilions dedicated to all 56 states and territories, special exhibits, live performances, interactive experiences, and classic fairground attractions," as well as "educational exhibits and immersive digital experiences" that would tell the story of the country.
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