Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy Mocks Artists Who Dropped Out of President Trump’s America 250 Event

Sean Duffy used his warm-up speech for President Donald Trump to take a swipe at the musicians who backed out of a Washington, D.C., celebration honoring the country’s 250th birthday.

The transportation secretary, 54, addressed the crowd Wednesday, June 24, ahead of Trump’s remarks kicking off the Great American State Fair, a 16-day event on the National Mall organized by Freedom 250 as part of America’s 250th anniversary festivities.

Sean opened by praising the performers who stuck around, including the Marine Band, country singer Lee Greenwood, tenor Christopher Macchio and Alexis Wilkins, the national anthem singer who is dating FBI Director Kash Patel.

“I think we have to give a big round of applause for our military band and singers,” Sean said in a video the The Daily Beast shared Wednesday, June 24. “Way better than those libtards that canceled on us. So much better. Thank you guys. President Trump will make you famous.”

The comment was a jab at several artists, including Martina McBride, The Commodores, Young MC and Bret Michaels, who pulled their names from the lineup after learning of the event’s political nature. As the National Enquirer previously reported, the cancellations forced Trump, 80, to reshape what had been billed as a concert into more of a campaign-style rally.

“I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading. I asked lots of questions and was assured that this was a nonpartisan event that was meant to celebrate ALL 50 states,” McBride explained via Instagram on May 28.

“In my mind I thought this was a great way to celebrate the states and also bring people together in the way that only music can,” the country star continued. “I saw it as just a bigger version of so many state fairs I have performed at over the years, celebrating community and what makes each state special. Sounds fun, right? Wholesome, even. Yesterday, things started changing and what we were told is, in fact, not what is happening.”

At the event’s kickoff, Sean was joined onstage by his wife, fellow Real World alum Rachel Campos-Duffy, 54, and several of their children. He went on to use the bulk of his speech time to encourage young Americans to prioritize marriage, children and faith over career and education, before urging families to “rediscover” the country with old-fashioned road trips.