Country music star Zac Brown is fiercely defending his upcoming performance at the historic UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House this weekend. The singer pushed back against critics trying to politicize the massive patriotic celebration.
Brown confirmed his high-profile participation during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday. The Zac Brown Band frontman plans to perform the national anthem alongside the United States Marine Band on Sunday. He completely denied having any political hesitation about performing at the White House under President Donald Trump.
The country singer made it clear that his focus remains entirely on honoring the nation and supporting the military. "Man, I’m there for the troops, man," Brown said. "I’m there to honor America. This is patriotism, not politics for me. I mean, f--- 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. So it doesn’t have a place in politics for me."
Brown noted that approximately 8,000 active service members are expected to attend the highly anticipated event. The musician expressed immense pride in taking part in such a monumental occasion for the country. "I’m so excited for this weekend," Brown said. "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."
Fox News Digital reached out to both the White House and the UFC for further comment on the upcoming weekend event. Massive preparations have been underway on the South Lawn for weeks. Workers recently installed a massive 90-foot-tall steel arch known as the claw to support the fight structure. The historic match is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, to perfectly coincide with Flag Day and President Trump's 80th birthday as part of the ongoing celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America's founding.
An activist group is still attempting to derail the historic patriotic celebration at the last minute. The Public Integrity Project recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of two Virginia residents in an effort to block the match from happening. The legal complaint claims the event will temporarily interfere with the National Mall area and describes the unique outdoor setup as hideous.