Donald Trump has lashed out at detractors of his Great American State Fair after critics claimed the event failed to bring substantial crowds to the National Mall.
‘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 wrote in a social media message to his MAGA supporters.
‘Ask yourself this simple question, “Do you think that Obuma [sic] or sleepy Joe Biden could have done it?” The answer is no!’
Trump launched the festivities last Wednesday with a speech he said attracted 45,000 people, but the event soon drew criticism over its cost to taxpayers after images appeared to show wide stretches of the National Mall sitting largely vacant.
‘Did the rapture happen overnight?’ one journalist wrote on Monday. ‘Fox & Friends is broadcasting from a completely empty Trump state fair on the National Mall.’
Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury also weighed in, writing: ‘I went to the Great American State Fair this weekend…and it really was as empty as reported. **And where did the rest of our taxpayer dollars go?’
Sparse attendance, however, has not been the only issue prompting complaints from people at the fair.
‘Food hall at Great American State Fair has lost power – they have food but tell me all their ice cream has melted,’ Homa Bash, a Fox 5 DC reporter, reported during the fair’s first full day.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt with her son at the fair over the weekend
Donald Trump appeared to respond to the fair’s critics on Monday in a social media post, saying it has been packed with people who are loving it. Above, the President speaking at the event’s opening ceremony last Wednesday
Gabriel Hernandez of Oklahoma City performs at Rodeo250 at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall on Saturday
The Freedom 250 Ferris Wheel on the National Mall during the Great American State Fair on Friday
Will Stites of Jonestown, Pennsylvania, participates in the Saddle Bronc Riding demonstration
Attendees dance with an Army robotic dog on the National Mall on Sunday
Rain fell during the Great American State Fair in Washington, DC, on Sunday
Visitors queue in the rain to ride the Freedom 250 Wheel
Visitors stand in line to ride the 110-foot Ferris wheel on Sunday, the fourth day of the event
Nic Jackson of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is thrown from a bull during the Bull Riding demonstration at Rodeo 250 on Saturday
A vendor selling pretzels and other food options told the Daily Mail on Saturday that he had issues with power generators that have caused outages.
In one instance, he could not get his ovens to turn on, which forced him to throw out all of the dough he had purchased for the day since he could not bake it.
The prices are not particularly family-friendly either. Waters and sodas cost $5 a pop, alcoholic beverages hover around $15 per drink (before tax and tip) and food options range from $10 to $25 per portion.
‘Went to the Great American State “Fair” yesterday so you don’t have to. Not a funnel cake, corn dog, bucket lemonade or fried Snickers in sight. The only ride is the Ferris Wheel. It’s not that kind of state fair, y’all,’ said DC Councilmember Christina Henderson.
Attendees have also pointed out the questionable quality of the booths and materials used to build them.
Some exhibits remain sparsely decorated with just pictures on the walls or TV monitors playing montages of the state being represented.
Alaska’s, for example, simply featured a carpet and some posters on the walls with few other trappings, despite being the largest and one of the most ecologically diverse states.
The booths themselves, which are temporary structures, were sticky with humidity during DC’s hot summer, as air-conditioning units failed to keep some enclosures cool. Some had stapled-on wallpaper that could be seen peeling back from the wooden frames.
The Great American State Fair on the National Mall has caught criticism for small crowds, faulty electrical equipment leading to food vendor issues and lackluster exhibits
Crowds were sparse at the fair on Saturday. The Ferris wheel, Arizona’s booth and the exhibit for the Department of War were the only displays with lines witnessed by the Daily Mail
The Department of War exhibit had a long line on Saturday
The Ferris wheel at the fair was a main attraction on Saturday. A long line made riders wair nearly 40 minutes to get on
The US Capitol is seen through fog behind the Ferris wheel at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall on Sunday
Workers in some booths were visibly sweating and cooling themselves down with souvenir fans handed out at some booths.
However, some were also delighted by the event and its patriotic displays.
Two Ohio women lauded the fair to the Daily Mail, specifically mentioning the grandeur of the space and the rows of booths and activities, including live musical performances, rodeos, a Ferris wheel and exhibits on US history and major American corporations.
‘Fun day at the Great American State Fair!’ White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social media alongside a photo of her and her son at the event.
‘How cool is it that we are alive during this historic time and we get to experience America’s 250th birthday!?’
The White House did not respond to questions about the event’s attendance, nor did Freedom 250, the Trump-backed nonprofit group that is running the fair.
