Martina McBride pulled out of a high‑profile concert series on the National Mall on Thursday, saying she had been 'misled' about its political neutrality, after the Great American State Fair was linked to a Trump‑aligned organising body.
The event was unveiled only a day earlier as a fortnight of free shows in Washington DC from 25 June to 10 July, billed as part of extended celebrations for America's 250th birthday. The Great American State Fair was being run by Freedom 250, a White House‑affiliated organisation led by Keith Krach, a Trump appointee. The line‑up leaned heavily on 80s, 90s and country nostalgia, with McBride listed alongside Flo Rida, Young MC, Vanilla Ice, The Commodores, C+C Music Factory, Bret Michaels, Milli Vanilli and Morris Day and The Time.