Country singer Alexis Wilkins, who is dating FBI Director Kash Patel, announced Tuesday that she will perform at a rally for President Trump that will help launch a broader series of celebrations leading up to America’s 250th birthday.
Wilkins shared the news on X, describing the opportunity as a “great honor.” She is scheduled to perform at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., an event organized by the Trump administration’s Freedom 250 initiative. The organization is separate from America250, the nonprofit commission associated with the nation’s semiquincentennial observance.
What began as a celebratory announcement quickly became a political flashpoint.
A few hours after revealing her participation, Wilkins returned to social media to push back against criticism surrounding her appearance at the event. The controversy emerged after reporter Sara Higdon questioned whether compensating the FBI director’s girlfriend with taxpayer funds could potentially raise federal ethics concerns.
Wilkins firmly rejected that characterization, stating that she had been invited to perform on her own and would not be accepting compensation.
“I was invited to sing this anthem on my own accord,” she wrote, adding that she was “not accepting payment for this great honor.”
She also disputed claims that public money was being used to fund the festivities. According to Wilkins, the Freedom250 celebration operates through fundraising efforts rather than taxpayer support.
“The Freedom250 entire celebration is on a fundraising arm; neither UFC nor any National Mall celebrations are ‘taxpayer funded’ (you would think, as a journalist, this would be something she would know or at least look into),” Wilkins wrote. She added that she would continue responding to what she described as false narratives and accusations that undermine her work and accomplishments.
The debate surrounding Wilkins’s appearance comes as organizers continue dealing with a dramatically reduced entertainment lineup.
Several major acts that had previously agreed to participate ultimately withdrew from the event amid concerns that the celebration had become too politically charged or too closely associated with Trump. Among those who opted not to perform after initially signing on were Martina McBride, The Commodores, Bret Michaels, and rapper Young MC, known for the hit song “Bust a Move.”
Their departures left organizers scrambling to reshape the concert roster.
Country singer Lee Greenwood, best known for “God Bless the USA,” and opera singer Christopher Macchio were later added to the lineup. Meanwhile, Flo Rida and Vanilla Ice remain the only performers from the original roster who are still expected to take the stage.
Trump himself is also expected to play a prominent role in the evening’s festivities. Despite previously floating the idea of canceling the concert altogether, the president promoted the event on Truth Social, encouraging supporters to attend what he described as a major rally on the National Mall.
“Big Rally tonight on the National Mall. Fantastic Music!!! MAGA!!! FUN!!!” Trump wrote.
The president has also mocked performers who decided not to participate. Last month, he referred to artists who withdrew as “third rate” and joked that he could become the event’s biggest attraction.
In a Truth Social post, Trump humorously suggested bringing in “the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World,” describing a figure who draws larger crowds than Elvis Presley did in his prime and who, he said, loves the country more than anyone else. The punchline, of course, was Trump referring to himself.
As preparations continue for the nation’s 250th birthday celebration, organizers appear determined to move forward despite the political controversy, performer withdrawals, and ongoing public debate that have followed the event from the beginning.
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