President Donald Trump has defended the Great American State Fair after its opening days were marked by sparse crowds, technical problems and criticism online.
In a Truth Social post, Trump praised the event and compared his administration’s handling of it with what he suggested former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden could have achieved.
“Do you think people appreciate what a fantastic job we did in building and operating the Great American State Fair at the National Mall, packed with happy people, and everybody loving it?” Trump asked on his social media platform, Truth Social. “Ask yourself this simple question, ‘DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?’ THE ANSWER IS NO!”
The post came after photographs and reports showed relatively light attendance during the first days of the fair. Reuters reported that crowds were sparse at the start of the 16-day event, although attendance could increase as the July 4 holiday approaches.
The Great American State Fair opened on June 25 and is scheduled to continue through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Organizers describe it as a modern-day world’s fair celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary, with more than 150 exhibits representing states, territories, businesses and civic groups.
Its opening day, however, was disrupted by operational problems. The Washington Post reported that power outages delayed entry, affected food vendors and put supplies of ice cream at risk. A faulty generator also caused the fair’s 110-foot Ferris wheel to operate intermittently before it returned to service later that evening.
A Freedom 250 spokesperson acknowledged what the organization called “power hiccups” and thanked visitors for their patience. Despite the problems, some attendees told reporters they enjoyed the displays, attractions and opportunity to mark the anniversary with their families.
The event had also faced controversy before opening. More than half of the musicians originally scheduled to appear withdrew from the festival, with several saying they had been misled about its political character. The departures included country singer Martina McBride, Poison frontman Bret Michaels and rapper Young MC.
Several states led by Democratic governors also declined to send official delegations, citing concerns about costs or the increasingly partisan presentation of the celebration. Freedom 250, nevertheless, said every state and territory would be represented through exhibits.
Trump formally launched the event at a rally-style gathering on the National Mall on June 24. His latest post presented the fair as a major success despite reports of a slow start and images of lightly attended areas circulating online.
The fair remains open daily, with longer hours from Thursday through Saturday and a midnight closing planned for July 4. Organizers are promoting concerts, cultural programs, military demonstrations, food and state exhibits as the event continues.