The Great American State Fair Meltdown, Explained - Washingtonian

Freedom 250 announced nine artists for a 16-day patriotic event on the National Mall called the Great American State Fair, but the lineup quickly collapsed as most performers pulled out. Artists said they were misled into believing they were joining a nonpartisan celebration of the nation’s birthday and were not told Freedom 250 is closely tied to Donald Trump. The event’s sponsor is Freedom 250, associated with a Trump-created task force and run by a Trump appointee. The controversy centers on fundraising access, including tax-deductible donations that can provide invitations to private receptions hosted by Trump. The resulting situation includes dueling semiquincentennial efforts, a congressional probe into fundraising practices, empty concert stages, and a recorded rant posted from a bathroom.

"Freedom 250 announced a lineup of nine artists scheduled to perform at the 16-day patriotic bash on the National Mall called the Great American State Fair. Immediately, the concert series began falling apart. Most of the artists pulled out, saying they'd felt misled by organizers. They thought they were performing at a nonpartisan celebration of the nation's birthday-and had not been informed that Freedom 250 was an organization closely tied to Donald Trump."

"One could certainly make that argument. The organization sponsoring the Great American State Fair is not America250, the nonpartisan entity created by Congress to administer the country's semiquincentennial celebrations. It's Freedom 250 (officially the "White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday"), an organization created by President Trump, and run by a Trump appointee, which the president said would "give America the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen.""

"Freedom 250 is yet another Trump-world fundraising vehicle (like the White House ballroom or the inauguration) that grants big donors access to the president. For one million dollars or more, for example, donors to Freedom 250 can secure an invitation to a private reception hosted by Trump himself. As the New York Times explained earlier this year, Freedom 250 allows "people and companies with interests before the Trump administration" to make "tax-deductible donations to gain access to, and seek favor with, a president wh"

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