Trump to Hold Rally at US 250th Event June 24 After Performers Withdraw

President Donald Trump said on May 30 he will hold a rally in Washington on June 24, replacing musical acts that pulled out of the US 250th anniversary celebration citing political overtones. Freedom 250, the organizer of the National Mall event, confirmed hours later that Trump will kick off the week-long celebration that starts June 25. Artists including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, and The Commodores exited the lineup this week, saying the event was more political than expected. Trump, calling himself the “Number One Attraction,” posted on social media that he may fill the slot with a rally. The planned rally comes as Trump faces low approval ratings, pressured by the war in Iran, rising gasoline prices, and Republican anxiety over the November 2026 midterm elections. It would be his first large outdoor event since an assassination attempt at a 2024 campaign rally.