President Donald Trump’s Freedom 250 has canceled a live performance efficiency by “Ice Ice Child” rapper Vanilla Ice two hours earlier than he was set to take the stage.
Freedom 250, the president’s public-private group tasked with throwing celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence, introduced after 5 p.m. ET Friday that “as a result of inclement climate” the “Nice American State Honest,” the place Vanilla Ice was set to carry out, shall be closed for the remainder of the day.
“The security of our visitors, employees, and companions stays our high precedence. We’re actively monitoring circumstances and can present updates as they turn out to be obtainable,” Freedom 250 wrote on X. The group added that the honest will reopen Saturday at 10 a.m.
Vanilla Ice, whose actual identify is Rob Van Winkle, known as the occasion a “as soon as in a lifetime alternative” in an Instagram submit hours earlier.
“We’re about to have an incredible celebration tonight,” the rapper mentioned in a video on the Nationwide Mall, the place he was set to carry out on an enormous stage. “That is gonna be epic.”
The White Home-backed Freedom 250 canceled a live performance from ‘90s rapper Vanilla Ice, among the many last-standing performers who didn’t drop out of the sequence, hours earlier than it was supposed to start out (Getty Photos for Joyburst)
Within the caption, he wrote: “As soon as in a lifetime, glad birthday America. Put your dance footwear on. We’re all gonna come collectively and be youngsters for the evening.”
It’s unclear whether or not the live performance shall be rescheduled. The Unbiased has requested remark from Freedom 250 organizers.
Just about each artist who was scheduled to carry out for on the live performance sequence — together with Martini McBride, The Commodores and Bret Michaels — dropped out of Freedom 250’s lineup shortly after it was introduced.
Vanilla Ice, identified for his hit ‘Ice Ice Child,’ had known as the occasion a ‘as soon as in a lifetime alternative’ shortly earlier than it was canceled (Getty Photos)
Vanilla Ice was the final artist standing for Friday’s still-scheduled “I Love the ‘90s” live performance, which initially featured Milli Vanilli, Younger MC and C+C Music Manufacturing facility.
Younger MC dropped out shortly after the lineup was introduced, saying the artists “have been by no means advised about any political involvement with the occasion” once they have been booked. The musicians behind the lip-syncing duo Milli Vanilli mentioned they by no means agreed to carry out, and Freedom Williams, a rapper who owns the rights to make use of the C+C Music Manufacturing facility identify, mentioned in a video defending his look that he “doesn’t f*** with Trump” earlier than he additionally apparently backed out.
Vanilla Ice advised TMZ final month that he’s “not gonna get dragged” into politics.
“I’m right here to celebration with America, man,” he mentioned. “Music is made to convey individuals collectively, and that’s what we’re right here to do. And we’re simply gonna symbolize the ‘90s.”
After a number of artists pulled out of performances at Freedom 2025’s ‘Nice American State Honest,’ Trump stepped in for a rally-style speech (Getty Photos)
As soon as performers began pulling out, Trump stepped in, calling himself the “Quantity One Attraction anyplace within the World.”
“I’m excited about bringing the Quantity One Attraction anyplace within the World, the person who will get a lot bigger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so with no guitar, the person who loves our Nation greater than anybody else, and the person who some say is the Biggest President in Historical past,” Trump mentioned about himself in a Fact Social submit final month.
Trump gave a political, rally-style speech to kick off the “Nice American State Honest” Wednesday evening.
Through the speech, the president raved about his renovation tasks round Washington, D.C., together with his large and expensive ballroom, which is on the heart of a authorized battle after he demolished the East Wing to make manner for the mission. Trump additionally re-painted the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool that turned inexperienced from algae days after being accomplished whereas freshly utilized blue sealant seems to be cracking off.
“For a few years, our nation was dominated by politicians who let America and its capital fall into decline and complete disrepair. The town named in honor of Basic George Washington was changed into a nationwide shame, however not anymore,” Trump advised a crowd of supporters Wednesday.
The kick-off occasion additionally featured music from Lee Greenwood, who sang his famed music “God Bless the USA,” and FBI Director Kash Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, sang the nationwide anthem.
The honest suffered one other hiccup on its opening week when an influence outage on the meals corridor induced ice cream to soften (Getty Photos)
Wilkins’ efficiency was blasted on-line, with one X person posting, “You’ll be able to hear a greater rendition at any highschool ball recreation.”
The cancelations aren’t solely hiccups at Freedom 250 because the honest opened this week.
On Thursday, an influence outage struck the honest’s meals corridor, inflicting ice cream to soften in the summertime warmth, in line with FOX 5 DC anchor Homa Bash.
