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Bret Michaels Exits “Freedom 250” D.C. Event, Citing “Divisive” Shift and Safety Concerns

Bret Michaels is the fifth act to withdraw from the "Freedom 250" concerts in Washington, D.C., citing threats, safety concerns, and the show's evolution into something "divisive." This leaves very few acts remaining from the original nine

Variety Music·May 29, 2026·via Variety Music

Bret Michaels Exits “Freedom 250” D.C. Event, Citing “Divisive” Shift and Safety Concerns

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May 29, 2026 3:30am PT

Bret Michaels Is Fifth Act to Pull Out of ‘Freedom 250’ in D.C., Citing ‘Threats and Safety Concerns’ as Trump-Backed Shows ‘Evolved Into Something Divisive’

By Chris Willman

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Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

ChrisWillman

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As Kris Kristofferson might have put it, “ Freedom 250 ” is just another word for a festival with very few acts left to lose. As of Friday morning, five out of nine artists announced roughly 48 hours earlier for the “Freedom 250” concerts on the National Lawn in Washington, D.C. have officially declared their intentions to back out of the gigs, which were set up by a private/public partnership founded by Donald J. Trump .

The fifth and latest to declare he was pulling out was rocker Bret Michaels , of Poison fame, whose exit statement essentially said that the atmosphere around the show had been poisoned, and that he was unnerved by threats that were coming in over the controversial festival.