US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has cancelled concerts planned to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary after artists pulled out. Now he’s said he’s holding a mass rally in Washington instead.

Country singer Martina McBride and Poison frontman Bret Michaels were among the artists who backed out of the concerts, with some citing the event’s politicisation.

The remaining line-up of musicians, which included Vanilla Ice and C+C Music Factory, became the butt of online jokes and Trump eventually announced on his Truth Social platform that the concerts would be cancelled.

“We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home,” the 79-year-old said.

“All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years!”

He said the replacement mass rally would be “the Greatest Rally, EVER!”.

“It will be special at every level — A Rally to end all Rallies!” he added.

Trump said the new line-up will include Lee Greenwood, the singer of “God Bless the USA,” a staple of his political rallies.

It will also feature US military bands and choruses, “all of your favorite Hits, PLUS a fine and highly dignified gentleman known as, President DONALD J. TRUMP!”

Trump had previously suggested holding a rally for his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, but he did not mention that in his announcement on Thursday.

The rally is among other big plans for the country’s birthday, including a mixed martial arts fight in a specially constructed arena on the White House lawn on 14 June – his 80th birthday.

With additional reporting from AFP.