Trump-backed Great American State Fair opens on National Mall with low attendance and logistical issues
The 16-day Great American State Fair, organized by a White House-linked partnership, began on the National Mall amid sparse crowds, power outages and criticism over Confederate symbols.
The Great American State Fair, a 16-day event marking the United States' 250th birthday, opened on the National Mall on Thursday. Organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership created by the White House, the fair is free to the public and is scheduled to run until July 10. President Donald Trump delivered a speech to open the event, claiming a live audience of 45,000, a figure that media outlets have questioned.
Attendance has been lower than expected, with observers noting empty booths and limited seating. A reporter for the Boston Globe highlighted that Maine's booth was unmanned, containing only chairs and informational displays. Social media users have shared photos and video showing small crowds and near-empty food areas.
The fair has also faced operational problems, including power outages, and controversy after a Confederate flag was displayed. An attendee, Sharyn Bovat, told the Associated Press that the presence of a replica of a proposed Trump Triumphal Arch gave the fair a political tone, adding that it reminded her of historical European architecture.
Several musical performers withdrew after expressing concerns that the event had become partisan. Country singer Martina McBride said she was asked to perform at a “nonpartisan event” that later proved misleading, while Bret Michaels described the fair as having become more divisive than he had anticipated.