Alexis Wilkins, a country singer and the longtime girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, defended her invitation to sing the national anthem at Wednesday’s Freedom 250 event on the National Mall in Washington.
The event, which President Donald Trump said would be a campaign-style rally, kicked off the Great American State Fair, a 16-day celebration ahead of the country’s 250th Independence Day.
Wilkins, a former press secretary for Republican Rep. Abraham Hamadeh of Arizona, called it a “great honor” to perform at the event, which has seen a slew of performers drop out in recent weeks. In a social media post on Tuesday, she hit back at critics who suggested her booking at the rally could violate federal ethics laws.
“I have been a country music artist for years now. I have had a successful career in both music and commentary/strategy,” Wilkins wrote. “People don’t get to negate that for clicks or headlines. I was invited to sing this anthem on my own accord, as I have been many other places throughout my career.”
Wilkins added that she is “not accepting payment for this great honor,” noting that the semiquincentennial celebration is funded by Freedom 250, a Trump-controlled nonprofit housed under the National Parks Foundation that collects private donations.
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Sydney Carruth
Sydney Carruth is a breaking news reporter covering national politics and policy for MS NOW. You can send her tips from a non-work device on Signal at SydneyCarruth.46 or follow her work on X and Bluesky.
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