By Marni Rose McFall – News Reporter
Images and videos circulating on social media appear to show the Great American State Fair with a low turnout of visitors, despite President Donald Trump’s claim that it was “packed with happy people.”
As part of the Freedom 250 celebrations for the semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the National Mall has been transformed into a “modern-day World’s Fair,” according to the organizers, featuring themed activities and musical performances.
But the first weekend of the 16-day event appears to have attracted only a few people, with images showing visitors sparsely dotted around the lawn, an empty event room and an empty line to enter the fair.
Despite the seemingly low turnout, Trump has continued to praise the event online. In response to a request for comment, the White House directed Newsweek to a Truth Social post the president shared early Monday morning: “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?
“Ask yourself this simple question, ‘DO YOU THINK THAT OBUMA OR SLEEPY JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE DONE IT?’ THE ANSWER IS NO!”
The event had already made headlines, as six of nine performers initially set to appear withdrew, including Martina McBride, the Commodores, Young MC and Bret Michaels.
Trump suggested canceling the concert last month and replacing it with a Make America Great Again rally. On June 24, the president delivered a keynote speech, headlining a kickoff rally for the fair.
What Is the Great American State Fair?
The Great American State Fair, which began on June 25, brings together exhibits and representatives from all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum previously said of the event, “As our nation prepares to celebrate 250 years of freedom and opportunity, the National Mall will once again serve as the stage for telling our nation’s story.”
The event, which stretches from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument, features attractions such as a 110-foot-tall Ferris wheel and a refurbished Smithsonian National Carousel.
Daily themes are expected to focus on topics such as veterans, health, faith, family life, enterprise and the future of the United States, while free concerts and live entertainment are planned throughout the celebration.
Admission is free, although organizers recommend registering in advance.
What Social Media Images Show
Online images that show the emptiness of the Great American State Fair have quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of views.
Harry Sisson, a Democratic political commentator, shared an image of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attending the event with her son. “Karoline Leavitt just accidentally proved how empty Trump’s state fair is. You can’t make this stuff up LMAOOO,” he wrote in a post viewed over 680,000 times.
Dean Cain, a Trump supporter who is best known for playing Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, also shared a photo on X that highlighted the event’s sparse attendance.
“View from atop the Ferris Wheel at the Great American State Fair,” Cain wrote in a post that has been viewed 1.2 million times.
Cain later said that anyone questioning the fair’s attendance numbers was “anti-American,” and he insisted that “there were thousands of people” at the event.
Acyn Torabi, a senior digital editor at the anti-Trump media network MeidasTouch, shared a clip of Fox News coverage of the fair, in which panelists described the event as having “thousands of people” in attendance, though the lawn area looked empty.
X user @Gianl1974, whose bio said “No MAGA,” posted footage that appeared to show an empty entrance line to the fair. Meanwhile, Stephanie Mencimer, a writer at Mother Jones, posted a video showing an empty venue room while an individual sang onstage.
Rachel Reisner, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, which organized the fair, spoke out against reports of low attendance, showing a crowd at the Rodeo 250 event.
What Happens Next
More festivities to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence lie ahead, including a July 4 “Salute to America” event on the National Mall featuring fireworks.
The Great American State Fair runs until July 10.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Shakeema Edwards.
Source: newsweek.com