U.S. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy speaks next to his family, during a rally kicking off the Great American State Fair, marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 24, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy used a Wednesday night warm-up speech for President Donald Trump on the National Mall to brand musicians who pulled out of the Great American State Fair as "libtards," drawing cheers from the partisan crowd.
Duffy opened his remarks by saluting the Marine Band and a trio of performers: Lee Greenwood, Christopher Macchio, and Alexis Wilkins, the country singer and girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, according to The Daily Beast.
"I think we have to give a big round of applause for our military band and singers," Duffy said in a video posted on X to cheers. "Way better than those libtards that canceled on us. So much better. Thank you guys. President Trump will make you famous."
The slur from a sitting Cabinet secretary came after weeks of dropouts that dogged the celebration, which is run by Freedom 250, the Trump-created nonprofit that bills itself as nonpartisan.
At least six acts walked away over the event's political nature, including country star Martina McBride, The Commodores, Morris Day and The Time, Milli Vanilli, rapper Young MC, and Poison frontman Bret Michaels, according to multiple outlets.
McBride wrote in a May statement that she had been "presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading." Young MC said the artists "were never told about any political involvement with the event."
After the exodus, Trump declared on Truth Social that the concert would become "A Rally to end all Rallies," writing, "We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home. 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 installed himself at the center of the festivities.
Duffy, flanked on stage by his wife, Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy, and several of their children, then pivoted to a lecture on faith and family, dismissing education and career ambition as "the dumbest advice that they could ever get," Mediaite noted.
"Modern culture has told our young people that they shouldn't look for love, they shouldn't have a family, they shouldn't have kids," Duffy said. "This is the dumbest advice that they could ever get."
The transportation secretary closed by urging families to gas up the car and hit the road, a message that drew earlier scrutiny when he promoted car travel amid gas-price spikes tied to Trump's war with Iran.
Duffy: think we have to give a big round of applause for our military band and singers. Way better than those libtards that canceled on us. So much better. Thank you guys. President Trump will make you famous. pic.twitter.com/wlRMH3mKyU
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 25, 2026