Breakout Star of Flop Festival Distances Himself From Trump
The rapper took a moment to address the crowd after sticking to his performance.
On Thursday evening, rapper Flo Rida broke his silence regarding his decision to perform at President Trump’s “Great American State Fair,” an event that had faced some setbacks.
The 46-year-old artist—known for hits such as “Low,” “Wild Ones,” “Whistle,” and “Right Round”—was on the initial lineup of performers scheduled for the fair.
However, notable artists—including Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Young MC, and Milli Vanilli—had cancelled their appearances shortly after the event was announced, citing the political controversy surrounding the gathering, which was intended to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Flo Rida took care to ensure his participation was not interpreted as an endorsement of Trump or the Republican Party. On the very evening he electrified the crowd on the National Mall, he publicly endorsed a Democratic congressional candidate via his Instagram account, which has millions of followers.
Flo Rida and rapper Vanilla Ice were the only artists who did not withdraw. While Vanilla Ice had spoken out about the controversy surrounding performing for Trump, Flo Rida had remained silent regarding his participation.
Prior to the event, the closest thing to a statement was a post from June 1st that did not explicitly mention Trump; in it, he stated: “Despite all the noise in the world, we can still choose to be positive every day and spread good news.”
That ambiguity ended when Flo Rida took the stage for his free concert at the fair on Thursday night.
During the show, the rapper addressed the significance of the event.
In a video published by Just the News, Flo Rida told the audience: “America’s birthday is something I don’t take lightly.” “Being here tonight is a historic event. So, being present, sharing my talent, and understanding the purpose and mission… all of that makes spreading a contagious love completely legitimate.”
Unlike most other events at the fair, Flo Rida managed to draw a large crowd, as evidenced by footage shared by the organizers (the “Freedom 250” group).
An attendee reported that the rapper invited audience members onto the stage, handing out flowers and autographed sneakers. The state fair faced numerous challenges, including low attendance, an intense heatwave, the use of environmentally harmful fireworks, and the visible melting of a replica of the “Trump Ark” that had undergone painstaking repairs.
After the concert, the “Freedom 250″ group released a video of the rapper expressing his wishes for America’s 250th anniversary: ”Spreading unity, love, peace, joy, and happiness, all in a festive atmosphere… Coming here to perform for America’s 250th anniversary… I know Jesus is real.”
Conservative Nick Sortor posted footage of the rapper’s concert, describing Flo Rida’s performance as “electrifying the crowd” on the National Mall; Mario Nawfal, a MAGA-aligned influencer, also noted that the singer was “hyping up the crowd.”
Bo Loudon, a pro-MAGA Christian influencer, shared footage of the singer, commenting: “The Left tried to cancel Flo Rida because he refused to back out, but they failed.”
Trump allies might not appreciate Flo Rida’s open support for Democrat Bernard Taylor, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida’s 21st district.
Flo Rida posted a video to his Instagram Stories promoting Taylor’s candidacy to his one million followers on the very evening he performed at the State Fair.
Flo Rida’s Thursday night concert took place following a potentially deadly incident that occurred earlier that day during a rehearsal on the fair’s main stage.
In a video posted online by progressive influencer Aaron Parnas, two groups of young dancers are seen performing on stage when a large rectangular section of the stage structure detached, narrowly missing the group positioned on the right side of the stage. A spokesperson for Freedom 250 had previously told The Daily Beast: “We are happy to announce that everyone is safe and sound; the safety of our performers, crew, volunteers, and guests is our top priority.”
The stage is falling apart at the rehearsal for Freedom 250's July 4th celebration. pic.twitter.com/bPbg94hp6X
— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) July 2, 2026
They added: “The work underway was taking place at the back of the stage, away from the front extension where the performers were rehearsing.” “Additional security measures and high-level technical oversight have been implemented as preparations continue. Freedom 250 and our artists remain fully focused on the goal of delivering an unforgettable celebration for the American people.”
It is also worth noting that Vanilla Ice’s concert, scheduled for last Friday, was cancelled about two hours before he was due to take the stage as part of the “I Love the ’90s” show.
Organizers announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the event would close for the remainder of the day “due to inclement weather,” emphasizing that “the safety of guests, staff, and partners remains our top priority.” Reports indicate that Trump was “furious” about the low turnout at the event—so much so that White House officials who had posted photos revealing the situation during his speech were asked to delete them from their social media accounts.
