Burgum Rejects Donor Disclosure for 250th Concert as 7 of 9 Artists Quit
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 31
Burgum Rejects Donor Disclosure for 250th Concert as 7 of 9 Artists Quit
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 31
Summary
Doug Burgum said donor transparency was not the issue for the July 4-linked Freedom 250 concert, even as the Trump administration faced demands to identify who funded the Washington event.
At least 7 of 9 booked acts — including the Commodores, C+C Music Factory and Martina McBride — pulled out after saying organizers had misrepresented the show as nonpartisan.
Burgum still called the celebration nonpartisan on CNN, while also acknowledging Trump had described it as a MAGA rally and said he did not know whether the concert would be canceled.
Trump escalated the dispute Saturday by floating an "AMERICA IS BACK" rally in the same place and time, saying he could replace the departing performers with a speech.
The clash widens scrutiny of the administration's 250th-anniversary plans, which Burgum also defended amid criticism of no-bid contracts tied to the celebration.