Trump’s State Fair Was Ass In All The Ways I’d Been Warned

I went to the Great American State Fair figuring it would make me feel lousy about my country.

I don't remember being so right about anything. 

I'd read all about how entertainershttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/artists-bail-americas-250th-birthday-bash-dc-rcna347340"> wouldn't take the stage, how states wouldn't https://nypost.com/2026/07/02/us-news/the-top-10-most-unamerican-no-show-states-at-trumps-great-american-state-fair/">staff the booths, and how https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-crowd-size-state-fair-national-mall-250-b3006937.html">nobody was showing up because the https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/02/trump-hijacked-250-anniversary">president had hijacked America's 250th birthday celebration and messed everything up.

But with only a few days before this circus leaves town—the fair closes tomorrow—I wanted to see for myself if The Mess on the Mall could live down to its billing.

And, sure, I wondered if Trump's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAXzzHM8zLw">Stonehengeian rendering of his proposedhttps://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-state-fair-arch-renovation.html"> Arc de Failure looked as ridiculous in the flesh as online. (Yup and yup.) So I went.

Turns out I was prepared for most of the awfulness.

But not all the Jesus.

So much Jesus.

First, a summary of its pros and cons.