Vanilla Ice’s scheduled set at the Freedom 250 Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., is canceled hours before the performance after heavy storms force organizers to close the site for the day to protect guests and staff.The shutdown compounds a wave of withdrawals from Freedom 250, a public-private group formed under the Trump administration to mark the US semiquincentennial; artists including Young MC and members associated with C+C Music Factory say they learned of the event’s political ties only after booking.Rob Van Winkle defends his decision to perform as an effort to keep music separate from politics while
Donald Trump and allies use the occasion to promote projects, leaving organizers to manage refunds and mounting reputational fallout.