After performers cancel, Trump says he will headline Freedom 250 event

After prominent artists pulled out of a series of planned concerts on the National Mall celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump nixed the musical performances and now plans to give a speech himself instead, according to a White House official.

In a social media post on May 30, the president criticized the musicians, whom he did not name specifically, for getting what he called "the yips." He appeared to be referencing the collapsing lineup of superstars for the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event organized by the president's nonprofit, Freedom 250.

Country star Martina McBride and R&B group The Commodores were among the latest cancellations for the concert, which is slated to run June 25 through July 10. Both said they were initially under the impression the event would be entirely nonpartisan.