Trump to kick off US 250th anniversary concert celebrations but without several artists who quit

US President Donald Trump will personally launch the Great American State Fair next month after several musical acts withdrew from the event, citing concerns over its political associations.The organisers of the fair, Freedom 250, announced on Saturday that Trump will kick off the celebrations on June 24 in Washington, DC, as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of the United States."We are excited to announce that President Trump will personally kick off this historic celebration on Wednesday, June 24," Freedom 250 said in a statement.The announcement came after a number of artists, including Bret Michaels, Martina McBride and the Commodores, pulled out of the event. Some performers said they had been led to believe the celebrations would be nonpartisan and later became uncomfortable with its political overtones.Responding to the withdrawals, Trump mocked the departing performers in posts on his Truth Social platform and suggested he could replace them himself."I understand Artists are getting the yips' having to do with their performance," Trump wrote.He later added that he was considering 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.'"In a separate post, Trump suggested scrapping the musical performances altogether."We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain," Trump said.Freedom 250, which describes itself as a nonpartisan organisation, was launched last year by Trump and is led by a former State Department appointee from his first administration.Martina McBride said on Instagram that she had been "presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading."Despite the withdrawals, several artists remain on the programme, including Flo Rida, Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice.The Great American State Fair is scheduled to run on Washington's Mall from June 25 to July 10 and will feature exhibits, musical performances, family attractions and military flyovers as part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.