The mainstream media wanted you to believe Trump’s Great American State Fair was a disaster. They called it a “flop.” They said it looked “empty.” They made sure you knew some blue-state governors refused to show up.
But here’s what they didn’t show you: little patriots running across the National Mall in red, white, and blue. Kids getting war paint from active-duty Marines. Families from Kentucky chanting “USA! USA!” as the World Cup played on giant screens.
The fair is doing exactly what President Trump intended when he signed the executive order in January 2025 — creating lifelong memories in the next generation of American patriots.
The Great American State Fair runs through July 10 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. — a 16-day celebration featuring over 150 exhibits from states, territories, government agencies, and businesses.
Daily programming includes youth livestock showcases, rodeos, live music, and educational speakers. Each day focuses on a specific theme “celebrating the people, traditions, innovations, and spirit that make America the greatest nation on Earth,” according to the Freedom 250 website.
“I can see all the states in one place and also what’s different in each state. The United States is so unique… I don’t think there’s any other country like it.”
That’s Manny Casanova from Marietta, Georgia, who traveled to D.C. with his family to experience the fair firsthand.
At the U.S. Treasury Department booth, patriots born after January 1, 2025, can open a Trump Account and receive a $1,000 contribution from the Treasury. Kids leave with bags that say “I’m a little investor… Every coin I save helps my future.”
The Department of War booth lets kids shake hands with active-duty service members from all five branches — Marine Corps, Navy, Army, Space Force, and Air Force. Face paint. Photos in uniform. A scavenger hunt connecting kids to 250 years of American history.
The Washington Post complained the crowds looked “sparse compared with past National Mall events.” The New Republic said it “lacked energy — and people.”
What they didn’t mention: spreading the fair across the vast National Mall gives families room to breathe. The grassy fields let kids run and do cartwheels without being packed shoulder-to-shoulder. And the “empty” photos? Taken on weekday afternoons when most people are at work.
Some state booths struggled with budget constraints. Kansas and South Dakota displayed facts on white canvas stretched across metal pipes. Maine opted out entirely, citing the estimated $100,000 cost to fund booths and staff.
But other states rose to the occasion with private sponsorships.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pulled out at the last minute, claiming “there weren’t any businesses from the state interested in being featured.” Republican Sen. Dave McCormick and Democrat Sen. John Fetterman stepped in within days, gathering private sponsors to fund the Keystone State’s booth — now filled with historic American flags.
Florida consistently drew the longest lines all week. The Sunshine State gives out free manatee and alligator stuffed animals. Indiana built mini-golf courses showcasing state landmarks. Nebraska offers a Union Pacific train simulator.
Many visitors said Florida had the best booth at the entire fair.
On the east side of the mall, daily rodeos bring the American West to historic soil. Bull riding. Horse bucking. Cow herding. After every show, cowboys and cowgirls walk to the fences so kids can pet the animals and take pictures.
“The story of the cowboy is the story of America. As our nation celebrates 250 years of freedom, innovation, and perseverance, there is no better place than the National Mall to honor the men and women whose grit, determination, and spirit helped build the American West.”
That’s Binion Cervi of Cervi Rodeo Company, the outfit behind the fair’s rodeo programming.
Blue-state governors who opted out due to Trump Derangement Syndrome missed a vital opportunity. They could have honored America. They could have done something positive for the next generation.
Instead, they let partisan politics stand in the way of creating little patriots who will carry the torch for the next 250 years.
The fair runs through July 10. Every volunteer, every booth, every rodeo cowboy leaves kids with one message: pursue your own American Dream.
