Organiser Blames Wealthy Donors After Cancelling Kid Rock MAGA Festival Because Only Six VIPs Sold

A Kentucky political festival featuring Kid Rock, Republican Rep. James Comer and reality television personality Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman has been cancelled days before it was due to take place, after organiser Eric Deters said only six people had bought the $1,000 (£748) VIP tickets he had been counting on to fund the event.

Deters announced the cancellation in a Facebook video on Monday, 21 September. Patriots Day Freedom Fest had been scheduled for Saturday, 26 September, at Deters' farm in Morning View, about 25 miles south of downtown Cincinnati.

The festival began in 2022, was cancelled in 2023 after Donald Trump withdrew, and returned in 2024, when Donald Trump Jr. headlined the event. Previous speakers have included Eric Trump and Candace Owens.

Deters said he had planned to fund this year's event through $1,000 VIP ticket sales to about 100 people he regularly interacted with, while keeping general admission free. Only six VIP tickets were sold, according to Deters.

Deters' Blunt Message After Cancellation

Deters did not hold back in his video. 'Rank-and-file Americans are the backbone of this country, both political parties,' he said. 'I want to tell you something, rich people, as a whole, suck.'

He clarified he was not exempting himself entirely. 'Now I'm a rich person. I live in one hell of a house. I don't suck, because I know that money isn't what freakin' matters the most. It's the fight, it's the cause, it's helping people,' Deters said. 'That ain't the way rich people think. Rich people only want to make more money.'

Deters said he had done 'countless favours' for the people he expected to buy VIP tickets, only to be ignored or given excuses. 'These people, some of them, I got ignored!... Then there's a group of people that made an excuse, like, 'Oh, I was travelling.' Like their phone doesn't work while travelling,' he said.

His conclusion was final. 'None of these people will ever, ever, ever get a favour from me again. Ever,' Deters said, adding that he has no plans to revive the event. 'I am never ever, ever, ever, ever doing this event again. Ever.'

What Led to the Freedom Fest Collapse

This year's promotional materials listed Kid Rock, whose legal name is Robert Ritchie, among the scheduled speakers, alongside Comer, congressional candidate Ed Gallrein and news contributor Joe Concha. Gallrein, who was endorsed by Trump, defeated incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in the Republican primary earlier this year.

A representative for Kid Rock did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The cancellation came as two national polls released Monday showed Trump's approval rating below 33%. An American Research Group poll released Monday put Trump's approval at 29%, the first time the firm's survey had recorded his approval below 30%.

A poll conducted Sept. 17–20 put Trump's approval rating at 32%, his lowest level in polling across his two presidencies.

Deters was adamant the slump was not about waning enthusiasm for his event. In a second video posted later Monday, he pushed back on coverage suggesting the cancellation reflected declining support.

'There's even national media picking up this story as if it was a failed event for lack of support. No,' he said. 'The MAGA supporters always support this event, always turn out. The issue was simply paying for the damn event because I make it free.'

Deters said six VIP tickets had been sold against a target of about 100. Deters, 63, said the experience had left him genuinely angry, describing the lack of support as something that 'really pissed me off.' Deters said he had no plans to revive the event.