July 06, 2026 9:23 PM ET Rock star Sammy Hagar defended his planned performance at the rained-out Freedom 250 celebration in Washington D.C. after social media users blasted him online. The ex-Van Halen frontman was set to be a surprise performer at the Trump White House-backed Independence Day event until thunderstorms and rain caused an evacuation, forcing the festivities to stop short. But when news of Hagar’s planned appearance broke, some social media users accused the “I Can’t Drive 55” hitmaker of aligning himself with the Trump administration, Ultimate Classic Rock reported.Hagar responded by defending his involvement and characterizing the event as apolitical. Sammy Hagar fired back after fans slammed his Freedom 250 involvement: “This is not a political thing. This is the celebra