President Trump announced Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio as performers for a June 24 rally in Washington, D.C., celebrating America’s 250th anniversary after most previously scheduled artists withdrew from the original Freedom 250 concert series.
Quick Facts
- The rally is set for June 24, 2026, at 7 p.m. on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
- Country singer Lee Greenwood will perform his 1984 hit “God Bless the USA,” introducing Trump.
- Opera tenor Christopher Macchio will perform selections including “Nessun Dorma,” “Ave Maria,” and “Hallelujah.”
- U.S. military bands—the Army Band, Armed Forces Choir, Marine Band, and Joint Armed Forces Chorus—will also perform.
Trump made the announcement via Truth Social, describing the event as “the Greatest Rally, EVER!” and emphasizing that the lineup would feature “the Greatest Music ever played” rather than high-fee performers. “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.
The announcement came after a series of high-profile withdrawals from the original Freedom 250 concert series. Artists including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Young MC, and Morris Day and The Time had all publicly dropped out of the event, citing misleading information about the concert’s political nature.
Trump Freedom 250 rally adds Lee Greenwood, Christopher Macchio performers
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Both Greenwood and Macchio have performed at Trump events before, including his 2025 inauguration. Trump praised Macchio in his announcement, stating, “Not since the legendary Luciano Pavarotti has there been such a voice!”
The rally replaces the original Freedom 250 concert series, which had been organized by the Trump-backed Freedom 250 organization to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday on the National Mall. After the artist departures, Trump moved forward with a rally format instead, with himself as the primary headliner alongside the newly announced performers and military musical groups.
Sources
- The Hill — Trump’s announcement of Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio performances, event details, and context on artist withdrawals.
- USA Today — Confirmation of the June 24 rally lineup and date.
- Deadline — Details on Lee Greenwood and Christopher Macchio’s participation.
