President Donald Trump is set to personally open the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, organizers announced Saturday, as a wave of performer cancellations threatens the 16-day event marking America’s 250th anniversary.

Freedom 250 spokeswoman Danielle Alvarez confirmed on X that Trump will kick off the celebration on Wednesday, June 24.

A Stage Without Stars

Bret Michaels, lead singer of rock band Poison, became the fifth performer on Friday to withdraw, saying the event lacked the nonpartisan character he expected. The frontman of Poison, the rock group best known for its working-class anthem “Nothin’ But a Good Time,” posted on Instagram.

Organizers have not publicly addressed the departures.

Freedom 250 did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.

Trump Floats Solo Rally

On Truth Social, Trump suggested scrapping the concert format altogether. “I am, according to many, the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World,” he wrote, claiming larger audiences than “Elvis in his prime.” He directed representatives to assess the feasibility of an “AMERICA IS BACK Rally.”

The fair, spanning the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument, runs Jun. 25–Jul. 10, featuring state exhibits, industry displays, military ensembles, flyovers and an iconic Ferris wheel, according to Freedom 250.

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