Kash Patel's Singer Girlfriend Is Now a Featured Performer at Trump's Great American State Fair After Wave of Artists Drop Out
Kash Patel's Singer Girlfriend Is Now a Featured Performer at Trump's Great American State Fair After Wave of Artists Drop Out
Desiree AnelloWed, June 24, 2026 at 8:39 PM UTC
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Alexis Wilkins and Kash PatelCredit: Alexis Wilkins/Instagram -
Kash Patel's girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, defended her invitation to be a featured performer at President Donald Trump's Great American State Fair on the National Mall
Since the event was announced, all but two of the originally planned performers have bowed out after learning of Trump's involvement with the event
Wilkins defiantly responded to online criticism about her invitation, writing on social media, "I'm no longer accepting false narratives and total sham accusations that diminish my hard work and earned accomplishments"
Kash Patel's girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, has joined the lineup of performers who will sing at the Great American State Fair after most of the musical acts pulled out.
On Tuesday, June 23, the country music singer, 27, announced that she would be a featured performer at a celebration of America's 250th birthday on the National Mall, which will be headlined with a rally speech from President Donald Trump after all but two of the originally announced performers dropped off the bill.
Hours after she shared the news, Wilkins defended herself from social media critics who claimed that "having the FBI director's girlfriend getting paid by the taxpayers to perform" was a violation of federal ethics laws.
Alexis Wilkins performing in Nashville on June 21, 2023Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty
"Let's just get a few things straight, because this is long overdue," she began in a post shared to X. "I have been a country music artist for years now. I have had a successful career in both music and commentary/strategy. 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."
In addition to insisting that she is not "accepting payment" for her participation in the celebration — hosted by Freedom 250, a group Trump created by executive order to organize semiquincentennial events — Wilkins said the upcoming event is not "taxpayer funded" as one social media user claimed.
"I'm no longer accepting false narratives and total sham accusations that diminish my hard work and earned accomplishments, so please expect this kind of response to continue," she concluded.
Before Wilkins was given the "great honor" of performing the national anthem for the 16-day festival, occurring from June 25 through July 10, a majority of the original musical acts — including Martina McBride, Young MC, C+C Music Factory, Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Morris Day & The Time and Milli Vanilli's Fab Morvan — bowed out after learning of Trump's involvement in the event.
"Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of," Michaels, 63, shared in an Instagram statement announcing his exit. "Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable."
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Martina McBride in May 2026 in Nashville; Bret Michaels in July 2014 in New York CityCredit: Jason Davis/Getty; Andrew Toth/FilmMagic
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Beyond artists' prior claims that they were "never told about any political involvement" surrounding the "misleading" event, as Young MC and McBride put it, the backlash Wilkins received for joining the lineup was exacerbated by the negative headlines that have surrounded her and Patel's relationship.
President Donald TrumpCredit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty
In November 2025, the FBI director, 46, faced criticism for using SWAT team members as security for Wilkins, which some insisted was an abuse of power and misuse of resources.
Backlash continued that December when Patel allegedly called the lead agent on Wilkins' security team and yelled at him to drive Wilkins' friend home, according to MS NOW. He later asserted that the claims were "made up and did not happen."
In April, The New York Times reported that one of its reporters, Elizabeth Williamson, was investigated by FBI agents for potential violations of federal stalking laws after she wrote an article about Wilkins.
"The F.B.I.'s attempt to criminalize routine reporting is a blatant violation of Elizabeth's First Amendment rights and another attempt by this administration to prevent journalists from scrutinizing its actions," Times executive editor Joe Kahn said at the time. "It's alarming. It's unconstitutional. And it's wrong."
The FBI denied the report's accuracy in a statement to PEOPLE, saying, "Ms. Wilkins was interviewed by FBI agents in relation to a death threat investigation, in which an individual specifically referenced an article published by Williamson as his motive. During this questioning, the agents inquired about the related reporting, entirely within protocol. No further action regarding Williamson or the reporting was ever pursued by the FBI."
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
