WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump, claiming he could draw larger audiences than Elvis Presley, said Saturday he was considering headlining a Washington rally after several artistes quit events celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary.

Shortly after they were announced as performers in a concert series around the July 4 holiday, several musical acts backed out, with some citing politicisation of the event.

The concerts were scheduled to kick off on June 25 as part of a major exposition on the National Mall organised by Freedom 250, a Trump-backed public-private entity.