Zac Brown Explains Performing at Trump’s Freedom 250 UFC White House Lawn Match: ‘This Is Patriotism, Not Politics For Me’

While President Trump’s planned Great American State Fair concert series flamed out earlier this month when nearly every artists booked for the shows bailed over what they claimed was the less-than-non-partisan bent of the event, Zac Brown has no such qualms.

The “Hard Run” singer appeared on The Pat McAfee Show this week to defend his slot performing before Sunday’s (June 14) UFC Freedom 250 event on the South lawn of the White House. “Man, I’m there for the troops, man. I’m there to honor America,” said Brown, who mentioned that a reported “8,000 active service members” will be in on hand for the match that will take place on a giant stage erected in front the iconic presidential residence.

“This is patriotism, not politics for me,” he added. “I mean, f–k all the division. I don’t believe in that. I love this country. I love all the people that have sacrificed so that I can live my American dream and that everyone that lives here gets a chance to do that if they work hard and make the right decisions and do that. So it doesn’t have a place in politics for me.”

Brown is slated to headline a daylong fan fest on Saturday (June 13) following the ceremonial weigh-ins, meet and greets and other activities, setting up Sunday’s seven mixed martial arts battles. The bout that is part of the Trump team’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary coincides with Flag Day, as well as, coincidentally, UFC superfan Trump’s 80th birthday.

Brown said he’s also a “massive” UFC fan, telling McAfee that it’s his “favorite sport” and that he was honored that UFC boss Dana White has “given me the opportunity to do this.” The singer, who competed on the judo team at the University of West Georgia during his college days, noted that in addition to his band playing after the weigh-ins on Saturday, they will also sing the National Anthem with the Marine Band before the fights begin.

“I’m so, so excited for this weekend,” Brown added. “And it’s history, man, getting to be part of American history, man. Having the first sporting event that’s on the lawn of the White House. I mean, it’s an honor.”

The controversial decision to erect a cage match octagon on the White House grounds has drawn complaints and a lawsuit from the Public Integrity Project in D.C. federal court alleging that the Department of Interior and the National Park Service have violated federal laws by organizing a private sporting event on public property without getting congressional approval for the construction on what is considered federal parkland for the massive fight platform, which looms 22 feet above the top of the historic presidential residence.

In addition, the suit aimed at trying to halt the fight, claims that there was not a proper environmental review “before undertaking ‘major federal action’ significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.”

The apparent construction of the stage without proper approvals is in keeping with former real estate mogul Trump’s act-first ethos during his second term, which has included the overnight demolition of the East Wing of the White House without the necessary approval from Congress, as well as the recent rushed resurfacing of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. In addition, the president, who frequently veers from scripted remarks to show off plans for beloved $400 million, 90,000 square foot ballroom, also has designs on leaving his permanent architectural mark on the nation’s capital by building a soaring, 250-foot-tall “Triumphal Arch” and a pedestrian bridge (nicknamed the “Trump Promenade”) designed to connect the back of the Lincoln Memorial to the Potomac River.

Brown is the only announced musical act slated to perform at the UFC event according to publicly available lineups. Last week, Trump officially pulled the plug on the Great American State Fair concert series slated for June 25-July 10 after almost all of the nine throwback acts on the bill bailed, leading the president to say that he will headline his own “rally to end all rallies” on June 24. Along the way, he took a dig at the original lineup, which featured a number of 1970s, ’80s and ’90s acts, including Poison singer Bret Michaels, Morris Day & the Time, Young MC, Milli Vanilli, Martina McBride and the Commodores, who all said they would not participate just days after the lineup was announced.

“We don’t want singers with no talent, but big fees to put you to sleep, we’ve told them all to stay home,” Trump said in scotching the series. “All we want is you, me, a few speakers, and the Greatest Music ever played, the same Music you have listened to for years.”

Watch Brown talk UFC Freedom 250 event with McAfee below.