FreeDUMB 250: "Trump's quest to dominate culture the way he dominates politics keeps going badly."

Trump's "Freedom 250" concert implodes spectacularly
His quest to dominate culture the way he dominates politics keeps going badly.
Paul Waldman
Jun 01, 2026

https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-freedom-250



It was going to be so beautiful: A spectacular concert to celebrate 250 years of freedom and democracy, featuring some of the greatest musical acts this nation has produced.

Okay, maybe not the greatest, but they were definitely musical acts! Depending on whether you count Milli Vanilli, or more accurately, one of the two guys who pretended to sing in Milli Vanilli. Along with a guy who was in C+C Music Factory. And Bret Michaels of Poison. For anyone itching to stand outside in the baking Washington summer sun to hear some guys in their 60s wheeze their way through “Girl You Know It’s True” and “Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” the disappointment must be crushing.

It now appears that this concert, part of the Freedom 250 celebration and the most awe-inspiring assemblage of talent since your local middle school’s last Battle of the Bands, will not be taking place after all. One after another, the 1990s-era performers pulled out, many saying that when they booked the event they didn’t know it was going to be political.

In other words, once they realized the event was all about Donald Trump, most of them wanted nothing to do with it.