Image Credit: Elvis Presley FB
WASHINGTON, June 1: United States President Donald Trump has claimed that he’s a bigger draw than the late Elvis Presley even “without a guitar” and is positioning himself as the star attraction of the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations, after several musical acts abruptly pulled out of the festivities.
Trump will personally open the commemorative ceremony on June 24, according to his Freedom250 initiative.
On his Truth Social platform, he suggested he might even step in to replace the “third-rate artists” who cancelled, hinting at staging an “America Is Back Rally” at the same time and place in Washington, D.C. “Only Great Patriots invited,” he declared, styling himself as the “Number One Attraction anywhere in the World.”
In a flourish typical of his rallies, Trump went further, boasting that he draws “much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime — and without a guitar.”
The original line-up, announced last week, had included The Commodores, country singer Martina McBride, and Poison frontman Bret Michaels. But all three withdrew, citing concerns that the supposedly non-partisan event had become too politically charged.
Trump lashed out at the musicians in subsequent posts, even calling for the concert to be scrapped altogether. “We should have a giant Make America Great Again Rally, for 250, instead of overpriced singers, whose music is boring, and who do nothing but complain,” he wrote.
The anniversary celebrations are scheduled to run in the U.S. capital from June 25 to July 10, though the spotlight now appears firmly fixed on Trump and his MAGA movement.
- BERNAMA-dpa