Bill Maher brutally mocks Trump’s disastrous Freedom 250 concert
For accused sexual harasser Neil deGrasse Tyson joined the show for a softball interview, “Real Time” host Bill Maher devoted much of his monologue Friday evening to President Trump’s ill-fated Freedom 250 concert series on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in honor of America’s 250e birthday on July 6.
“We have a 250e birthday party for America. A concert,” Maher offered. “They announced the lineup: Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, Morris Day, Bret Michaels. I think this is very admirable about the president; it shows that he is concerned about the unemployed.”
Like Trump’s embarrassing pre-inauguration concert in 2017, which included performances by The Piano Guys and someone named DJ Ravidrums, his Freedom 250 concert was plagued by a host of dropouts, with numerous performers claiming they were misled and unaware of Trump’s involvement before signing on. Rocker Bret Michaels, R&B group The Commodores, rapper Young MC, Morris Day and the Time and the original singers of Milli Vanilli have all announced they are withdrawing from the show. Country star Martina McBride announced her retirement on Twitter to write“I was offered the opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event, but it turned out to be misleading.”
Cue Maher: “And when they announced this all-star lineup, a lot of them were like, ‘No, what are you talking about? We’re not playing.’ That must hurt a lot if you can’t close the deal with Milli Vanilli.’
In addition to Milli Vanilli’s Fab Morvan, who rather infamously only lip-synced on the group’s albums, rappers Vanilla Ice and Flo Rida will still perform at the Freedom 250 concert series, which will take place from June 25 to July 10.
And Maher wasn’t done taking shots at Trump.
“Here’s something in the category of wow, we’ve never been this country: They’re putting out a $250 bill with Trump’s face on it,” he said. “I think it’s a commemorative coin. The Republicans in Congress are excited about it. They can’t wait to carry it in their wallets. What a switcheroo: with Trump’s face next to their ass.”
