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Bill Maher ripped the musicians who dropped out of the President Trump-affiliated Freedom 250 concert series, arguing the move makes it look like Democrats “don’t really love America.”
The backlash came after several performers — including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Morris Day, C+C Music Factory and Young MC — pulled out of the Great American State Fair festivities in Washington, D.C., claiming they were misled about the event.
“They all pulled out,” Maher said during Friday’s episode of HBO’s “Real Time.” “This is a question about what looks best for the Democrats, because I don’t think that looks good.
“It looks like you are just what people say about you, you don’t really love America. It looks [like] you think Trump is more important than the country itself.”
Maher argued that the performers made a mistake by abandoning the event celebrating America’s 250th birthday and said their exit only turned it into a full-blown “MAGA rally.”
“Now it’s just a big MAGA rally, this whole thing,” he said. “Now it’s Trump and Lee Greenwood.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to play this gig? Can’t we all just celebrate America itself and leave Trump out of it?”
Trump revealed Thursday which performers he has lined up for the celebration.
“We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!”
Trump said country singer Lee Greenwood will introduce him with a performance of “God Bless the U.S.A.”
The president also touted tenor Christopher Macchio, who is slated to perform “Nessun Dorma,” “Hallelujah,” “Ave Maria,” “God Bless America” and other songs.
“Not since the legendary Luciano Pavarotti has there been such a voice!” Trump said.
Trump added that the US Army Band, Armed Forces Choir, US Marine Band and Joint Armed Forces Chorus will perform “all of your favorite Hits.”
“PLUS a fine and highly dignified gentleman known as, President DONALD J. TRUMP” will speak at the rally, he added.
Freedom 250, created by a Trump executive order to help commemorate America’s 250th birthday, previously announced Vanilla Ice, Flo Rida and Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan among its original lineup.
The free concert series is set to take over the National Mall from June 25 through July 10.
English (US)