The Internet Roasts Trump Over His Disastrous State Fair Experience

A few days into President Trump’s Great American State Fair, it’s clear that it’s not living up to expectations. The event has a cheap, poorly managed, and dirty vibe, which is pretty much par for the course for state fairs in general. However, this one feels particularly desolate.

The Great American State Fair is a 16-day “national exposition” featuring a Ferris wheel, state-themed pavilions, food vendors, and various speakers and live performances. It was organized by a task force created by Trump to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Just to clarify, this event is distinct from another group that has been planning a nationwide celebration for the same milestone, which includes a big charity event in Los Angeles next month. While that group has big-name acts like The Smashing Pumpkins, Trump’s fair features Vanilla Ice and, well, a giant empty lawn.

The fair is currently taking place in Washington, DC, which is ironically not a state. Since its opening, the event has faced power outages, melting ice cream, and shockingly low attendance. Vanilla Ice’s concert was canceled, and the fair even closed early one night due to bad weather. Not great.

Photos and videos from the event show a series of bizarre and sparsely attended attractions. With some booths representing states like Alaska, Maine, and Hawaii being empty, it’s no wonder attendance is low, especially in the sweltering heat.

If you brave the heat, you can check out the North Carolina booth, which features a Confederate flag that the state’s governor is not pleased about. This booth is run by a private company because the state opted not to fund it.

A stage event hosted by Dr. Oz, who is currently in charge of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, was filmed by an outlet. When he and former Superman actor Dean Cain discussed the crowd size, the camera panned to an empty field in front of the stage. Ouch.

The only attraction that seems to draw a crowd is the Ferris wheel, which might explain why many official photos focus on it and the line of people waiting to ride.

One stage presentation featured a speaker discussing “Breast Implant Illness,” but the audience was so sparse that the presenter lamented, “There should’ve been thousands of people listening to us here!” Another speaker claimed that root canals make you sick. Misinformation is alive and well! Images shared from the fair show food vendors without any tables or chairs for patrons to sit and eat, with prices that are quite steep. Who wants to pay $16 for chicken, rice, and slaw with nowhere to sit?

The internet has been relentless in mocking the Great American State Fair, pointing out its unattractive buildings, shoddy decorations, and overall depressing atmosphere. Many have drawn comparisons to the infamous Dashcon and its ball pit, while others likened it to a less charming version of the Wonka experience that left attendees feeling cheated.

So, how is Trump responding to the ridicule? Not too well, it seems.

The 11 a.m. time slot at the fair has proven to be less than fruitful, with more musicians in the band than spectators.

Trump took to social media to defend the fair, asking, “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?” He then posed the rhetorical question, “DO YOU THINK THAT OBAMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?” On that point, I can’t imagine Obama hosting a fair like this.

After seeing numerous videos and photos of the Great American State Fair, if I had to choose between attending this event or the infamous Wonka experience, I’d pick the Wonka event without hesitation. It looked less oppressive, and I wouldn’t have to deal with a grown man debating a ten-year-old girl about the Salem Witch Trials on a stage in a field.