The Biden administration’s purge of appointees to various government advisory boards by prior presidents — mostly Republicans — is continuing with the dismissal of country music great Lee Greenwood from the National Council on the Arts.
During an interview last week with “Fox & Friends,” Greenwood explained that he was initially appointed to the board by President George W. Bush then served throughout President Barack Obama’s two terms and President Donald Trump’s single term, adding he was shocked to get the letter advising him he was being replaced.
Greenwood, who wrote the country anthem “God Bless the USA,” which was a favorite of the late President Ronald Reagan and has become a fixture at Trump’s rallies, suspects that politics may be behind the decision to remove him from the arts council.
“As you know, [Trump] used my song…which is unilateral for me — it’s meant for all people, not just for a particular political party,” Greenwood explained. “So here’re we now now under the Biden administration, and he’s cleaned house. And finally, he’s fired a patriot.
“I was quite shocked, to tell you the truth. I didn’t get a phone call or letter, it was just an email,” Greenwood, who released his ‘USA’ anthem in 1984, added.
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt noted that during his campaign and after he was elected, President Joe Biden said he wanted to “unite the country,” adding that Greenwood’s song “united us during” the Sept. 1, 2001, terrorist attacks “and has ever since.”
“I would like to think that it is,” the award-winning country artist responded. “I have to tell you in all of our shows, I don’t care where they are, we always honor our veterans. And I want to particularly point out that fact.”
He went on to say that he has a show coming up Oct. 12 in Huntsville, Ala. and that he has “set aside a block of tickets” for veterans and “caregivers” to attend, which he says he does at most events.
“This is very special. It’s a television production,” he said. “It’s gonna be star-studded with 40 different” performers, he added, noting that people can “adopt a vet” at his website ahead of the show, LeeGreenwood.com.
Greenwood is just the latest advisory board casualty replaced by the Biden administration.
Former Trump White House spokesman Sean Spicer was fired from a military advisory board along with several others appointed by the former president; Spicer lashed out at current White House press secretary Jen Psaki after she questioned the Naval Reserve officer’s qualifications.
“Don’t you dare ever minimize or question my service to this nation. You got it?” the Newsmax TV host railed on his show earlier this month. “This move has taken partisanship to a new level.”
“I’m a proud graduate of the U.S. Naval War College. I’ve done multiple tours, and politics has never entered into my service. I’ve served under five different presidents of both parties. When you’re wearing the uniform, you serve the commander in chief. We take an oath as officers to the Constitution, not to a party,” Spicer added.
COMMENT: I will add one comment about the Biden administration: No class.