r/moderatepolitics • u/Any_Confusion_7077 • 3d ago

News Article Trump considers dropping Freedom 250 concerts in D.C. after artists pull out

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-considers-dropping-concerts-us-capital-after-artists-drop-out-2026-05-30/

Today, President Trump tweeted that he is considering cancelled a series of concerts planned to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. This comes as many of the artists publicly advertised to perform have withdrawn from the event, with some citing that they initially agreed thinking the event would be non-partisan. Instead, he is touting himself as a much bigger draw and is instead proposing he gives a speech at an America is Back Rally. It’s unclear if they will attempt to find other performers to keep live entertainment as a part of the planned celebrations.

What do you think of the artist’s decisions to withdraw - should they be willing to overlook President Trump’s participation in order to celebrate this milestone for America, or is it fair to pull out? Do you think President Trump is a bigger draw than other live entertainment, and is he capable of uniting the nation for America‘s 250th birthday? Do you think other entertainers will agree to perform?

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u/Seachica 3d ago

Considering that Trump ignored the already established America 250 committee to form his own Freedom 250 planning org, these concerts were made political by him. So yes, the artists should drop out if they don’t want to be associated with Trump’s politics.

Celebrating the 250th year of the country should not be political. But Trump made it that way so here we are.

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u/bschmidt25 3d ago

100%. I wasn't around for it (barely) but I've heard the Bicentennial in 1976 was a pretty big deal and people appreciated it. Trump making this a self-glorification event / political rally (as usual) is a disgrace.

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u/Seachica 2d ago

I was a kid during the bicentennial. It was a big deal, lots of fun, and non political. It makes me sad that we aren’t all celebrating this year. I did my part though — have some America 250 merch, and will be proudly waving the American flag on July 4. But I’m not going anywhere near any Freedom 250 stuff.

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u/ciammarino 2d ago

Me too. For 50 years, I’ve been excited to see what all of you saw in 1976. I thought America’s 250th would be everywhere—that the excitement would spill into every corner of the culture all year long. Honestly, in our capitalistic dystopia, I figured every product under the sun would be stamped with a commemorative “250 Years of America” logo.

Instead, it feels a little like my country turned 250 and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

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u/Soggy-Brother1762 2d ago

Just for fun one time I watched the debate between Ford and Carter and, wow, politics was a whole different show back then. 

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u/Excellent-Piglet8217 2d ago

I was born in 91, so obviously I wasn't around for the country's Bicentennial. However, I grew up in Ohio and participated in the state's Bicentennial. It was a huge deal and very much bipartisan. It felt like everyone was excited to celebrate Ohio for once. I remember thinking about our nation's 250th, knowing that I'd likely live to see it, and what a HUGE celebration it would be. Ohio's Bicentennial celebration felt so monumental at the time.

And now...gestures at everything

My family is full MAGA and will absolutely do or believe ANYTHING that Trump says. I'm exhausted and I hate this timeline lol

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u/ciammarino 2d ago

Agreed. As a bicentennial baby, this one hurts a little. Being born in 1976 always felt special—we grew up hearing “Ooh, you’re a bicentennial baby,” and believing it somehow mattered. I’ve been looking forward to this celebration my whole life. There was something fun and oddly unifying about the idea that we’d all get to celebrate America’s 250th together. Like after carrying that label around for 50 years, a tiny part of the party belonged to us too. But now it just feels estranged.

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u/sfgf27 2d ago edited 2d ago

‘76 is a cool birthday year. Try and ignore the political stuff since the current situation is temporary as the pendulum of power swings back and forth.

Enjoy the 250th nonpartisan celebrations with your family, friends & in your community you’ve been looking forward to, and also on TV as there will be plenty.

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u/Ok_Tomato_8236 2d ago

Yeah that’s the problem/cycle, the pendulum of power keeps swing back and forth to the worst people on both sides. Be nice to stop the pendulum and elect someone in the middle.

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u/Professional-Lab6751 2d ago

‘Worst people on both sides’ implying there is any comparison between sides here. There is not.

There is a cultural and political pendulum in literally every democratic political system.

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u/Ok_Tomato_8236 2d ago

I not comparing anyone, just saying they all suck. They all lie, censor, distract, misinform, and funnel our taxes to the wealthy while kicking the can of real change down the road. Except Massie, he’s the man.

There’s actually not a “political pendulum” in every democratic system. Some countries even set their systems up to avoid big winner takes all swings.

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u/Professional-Lab6751 2d ago

Weird how this only goes one way doesn’t it? Weird how this is only trying to equate the Democrats and Republicans and handwave away all the massive differences in amounts of corruption, misinformation, ideology and adherence to democracy when it’s quite clear the Republicans are far, far worse in almost every measure. There is quite literally no comparison.

One side is very clearly much worse than the other. Who got the BBB with the wealthy tax cuts passed? Was that Republicans or Democrats? When have the Democrats done anything even close to that? The answer is never.

It’s okay, you can admit that the Republicans are uniquely bad and have been working against the interests of the US for close to 50 years now.

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u/Ok_Tomato_8236 2d ago

Again I’m not comparing anyone. I can admit republicans suck a fucking lot. Can you admit that democrats do everything I said in my previous comment just like the republicans do? Which is why I don’t identify with either. Based on the way you’re trying to come at me though, I’d bet you think the democrats can do no wrong and aren’t open to any contrary information.

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u/Professional-Lab6751 2d ago

I am an independent.

I can admit that democrats have made mistakes, but as an analogy it’s like saying ‘look at these two criminals, aren’t they both awful’ when one of them has shoplifted and the other has murdered someone. Yes, they both have committed a crime, but one is quite clearly worse and it isn’t even close.

This ‘both sides’ rhetoric is always used as a tool to denigrate Democrats as it serves Republican interest to foster apathy and act like everyone is just as bad as each other because they know they are much much worse.

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u/Ok_Tomato_8236 2d ago

Nice, that’s what I like to hear.

I’m not trying to foster apathy for republicans, i point out they both suck because I want to see the end of the two party system. And more people go independent.

It comes across the same exact way though when democrats/anyone refuse to acknowledge or play down their “mistakes.” I don’t think it’s a party thing, I think that’s just tribalism at work. So much accountability is needed but unfortunately the wealthy and politicians have mastered the art of avoiding accountability through information flooding, narrative fragmentation, credibility attacks, shifting attention, legal delays, astroturfing, influence networks, etc.

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u/Iceraptor17 2d ago

It's depressing. really its just all become one big trump rally. Anything America 250 the feds are making sure to tightly link to trump and his image.

Which is unfortunate. Many places in the country will still do a phenomenal job with it, so it won't be all doom and gloom. But i expect nothing out of the trump admin but a big "Trump is great" session.