Documents show states blindsided by costs of Trump's Great American State Fair

cultureJul 6, 202616597

Emails obtained through freedom of information requests show state organizers were left scrambling over last-minute planning, unexpected bills and unclear insurance requirements for the Trump-backed Great American State Fair on the National Mall. Planning for the 16-day festival began only months before, in February, and only 40 of the 50 states officially signed up to participate. Documents and emails detail alarm from states about steep charges for furnishings and logistics after being told Freeman was the designated provider for material handling, labor and furnishings. New Hampshire organizers, who committed on May 19, warned they had almost no budget and did not expect large additional furnishing costs. Freeman’s ties drew scrutiny in the records because Joe Popolo, a longtime Freeman executive and major Republican donor, served on Freeman’s board and was highlighted in a 2025 post by President Trump announcing Popolo’s appointment as U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands. The event suffered sparse crowds, electrical hiccups and a heat-related shutdown over the weekend that hospitalized 11 people, undercutting hopes that the festival would be a centerpiece of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Several states raised concerns or declined to send delegations as a result, leaving organizers to scramble to staff and equip state pavilions.

amanda moore 🐢

@noturtlesoup17.bsky.social

Video thread - the evacuation of the Great American State Fair on July 4 took well over an hour. A little after 6:30, they started to shut down the main stage. People largely stayed in their spots as the automated message announcing the fair was closing played on repeat.

23615h ago

amanda moore 🐢139

But the fly overs never stopped! People cheered on the planes, played catch, and continued to enjoy the fair. I asked a Marshal if they were really closing. Yes, but "no one gives a rats ass," he said. At 7:30, National Guard started to usher people out.

Brendon42

This nation has epidemic levels of adult-onset oppositional defiant disorder.

Disabled Immigrant5

Thank you for your reporting. I hope you stayed hydrated.

Arkancrow3

They can corrupt a Wold Cup with a single phone call. But they can’t even evacuate a fair. Corruption and incompetence.

newaccountwhodis?1

What a birthday party. Pool is full of algae, the weather sucked, and of the few that actually showed up there was no one you wanted to be around anyway.

Quality Control1

I'm going to tell the grandkids this was the Rapture

Quoting this

Avon DeRussate8

Watching this video concerning the closure of the Freedom 250 state fair on the 4th July. I am as far from superstitious as it is possible to get, but watching the footage of the main stage being evacuated I am given to wondering if maybe God is smiting that event. On that auspicious day as well.

Raider

@iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social

Honestly, the whole "Great American State Fair" thing was a disaster. You can’t turn the country’s 250th birthday into a vanity project and expect people to cheer. America isn't just about one person’s ego. Watching that spectacle fall apart was actually satisfying.

1449h ago

Caactivist.bsky.social3

My plan on the 4th⬇️⬇️⬇️

hopelaughlove.bsky.social2

The Patriot Front are back to their jobs at ICE today…. x.com/pawlowskimar...

lifelearn.bsky.social2

And sickening at the same time

Phil050pher1

It was lovely to see such clear evidence of how unpopular Trump is, how incompetent and clueless. I wonder how much longer he can hide in his psychotic bubble before the fact that he is an utter loser breaks through and he falls to pieces?

nomeka.bsky.social1

djt is destroying americans symbols and reputation 8647💩 gop game over party; cover-up murders, treason, corruption. usa is defenseless; egg sith purge army and keep it out of reach.

Raw Story

@rawstory.com

Newly revealed documents show just how badly states were left in the dark about the costs and planning for President Trump's "Great American State Fair" — and how much they had to scramble for answers. Several states refused to send delegations at all.

334h ago

Nikki McCann Ramírez

@nikkimcr.bsky.social

wrote about how I went to the "Great American State Fair," but should have just spent the day at the Smithsonians www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

39Yesterday

bowie deschanel

@raisingonebrow.bsky.social

There are more people who stand in line for the pickle lemonade by 9am on Thursday at the Minnesota State Fair than attended the Great American State Fair

338h ago

Rhuta Bhayga

@rhutabhayga.bsky.social

This corrupt regime from hell cheated the American People out of our 250th Birthday. It's disgusting. statuskuo.substack.com/p/tofu-dreg-...

225h ago

ltwlauren🤸‍♀️❤️🎶🎨🐾

@ltwlauren.bsky.social

Mehmet Oz, former TV quack now in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, as you know, says that “There is a ton of people in attendance” at the Fair. From this photo, obviously, that is a lie. The Great American State Fair Is a Great Trumpian Disaster newrepublic.com/article/2125... via @newrepublic.com

19Yesterday

Clark Powers3

I’ll leave this here for any thoughts.

SorryHat

@sorryhat.bsky.social

The “crowds” of the great American state fair have concreted to me that if the republicans win the midterms it’s because of big tech meddling. Dawg, NO real person is behind this MFr.

215h ago

Shawn Milrad

@shawnmilrad.bsky.social

We wanted to understand if FIFA is corrupt. So we talked to three Trump supporters and a meteorology professor just back from the Great American State Fair, at this Starbucks in Everett.

1022h ago

pissed-off-g.bsky.social

@pissed-off-g.bsky.social

Jack is joined by Governor Gavin Newsom, Lt Governor Peggy Flanagan, and Jim Acosta to discuss everything from Donald Trump’s collapsing Great American State Fair to his declining health... www.youtube.com/live/LH0dScO...

6Yesterday

Marilynn Morose

@scarymarilynn.bsky.social

Catching up on people's experiences with that "The Great American State Fair" bullshit. It makes me so sad how greed and narcissism have tarnished this whole 250 situation.

922h ago

Patricia Correll

@authorpcorrell.bsky.social

Seeing descriptions of the 'Great American State Fair' by people who have ventured out to see it is giving me life on this rather depressing 4th of July/250th birthday weekend.

723h ago

Bunny in a jar 🐇➡️🫙😨

@queercoleslaw.bsky.social

yk, maybe what the "Great American State Fair" needs is a good ol' dose of 2003-style "shock and awe" directed at it

616h ago

William R Knecht

@williamrknecht.bsky.social

MAGAs dispute miniscule crowd sizes at "Great American State Fair." Snopes says this picture was accurate. www.snopes.com/fact-check/g...

46h ago

US News Now - World’s leading Liberal Voice

@democracyblue.bsky.social

"I love President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair. I love its emptiness. Its expensive food. Its ability to confound Trump-friendly media outlets that keep pretending it’s going great," writes columnist Rex Huppke . bit.ly/3TenTbf 📸: Nathan Howard/Reuters

52h ago

3 sources

notus.orgStates Raised Concerns about the Great American State Fair’s Rush, Cost and Confusion axios.comOhio showcases "The Heart of It All" at Great American State Fair ticketnews.comGreat American State Fair Shuts Down for Hours Amid Heat, 11 Hospitalized

Documents show states blindsided by costs of Trump's Great American State Fairculture Trump shares doctored photo of Obamas beside graffiti‑covered Air Force Oneculture Anthrocon 2026 concludes in Pittsburghculture

Documents show states blindsided by costs of Trump's Great American State Fair

Related