CRUCIAL QUOTE
“The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event,” rapper Young MC said.
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CONTRA
Some artists haven’t backed out of their planned performances for the Great American State Fair. Rapper Flo Rida hasn’t spoken about it—other than to post a series of laughing emojis in response to a commenter who asked, “Performing for Trump? Why??”—and Vanilla Ice said he still plans to perform: “I’ll go play for Putin, and I’ll play in Iran if you want,” he said in an interview with TMZ. “It don’t matter.”
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Key background
Trump’s Freedom 250 group started promoting the Great American State Fair last year as one of its signature events for the semiquincentennial celebration. The festival is set to run from June 25 to July 10 in Washington D.C. and has been billed as a modern, nationwide version of a World’s Fair, bringing together all 50 states and U.S. territories. In recent weeks, critics have said what was presented as a nonpartisan celebration has become closely tied to Trump and the MAGA movement, leading to the cancellation of performances and refusal from some states to participate. The original plan was to have one pavilion or exhibit area highlighting each state and territory, but at least eight states (Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Maine, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania) have said they won’t participate. Several states cited the cost as a limiting factor—Gov. Maura Healy, D-Mass., said Trump’s administration “wants to charge us” for the event—and others offered no explanation for skipping out. Freedom 250 has still promised every state “will be celebrated.”
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further reading
ForbesUFC At White House: Fighter Makes Crude Remarks About Michelle Obama After WinBy Siladitya RayForbesOnly A Few Acts Remain In Trump’s ‘Great American State Fair’—And 1 Isn’t TalkingBy Antonio Pequeño IVForbesTrump Replaces ‘Great American State Fair’ With Rally—After Performers Drop OutBy Antonio Pequeño IV