Empty State Fair Revealed Moments Before Trump Took Stage

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Daily Beast

Updated Jun. 25 2026 6:00AM EDT
Published Jun. 24 2026 11:38PM EDT


Numbers at President Donald Trump’s much-hyped Great American State Fair appeared underwhelming just moments before the president took the stage on Wednesday night. Reporting live from the event was CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan, who spoke to Anderson Cooper from Washington D.C.’s National Mall.

As O’Sullivan spoke to Cooper following Alexis Wilkins’ performance of the national anthem, a relatively sparse crowd could be seen in the background, with significant empty space directly behind O’Sullivan with slightly over twenty minutes to go before the president took the stage.

O’Sullivan mentioned that Wilkins’ performance of the Star-Spangled Banner “seemed to go down pretty well here,” and also noted that military planes had been flying overhead “all night.” “Just to give a sense of what this Great American State Fair feels like, this is a lot of the set-up,” O’Sullivan explained, gesturing to what he described as “fake pillars and fake gold American eagles” where state pavilions are being erected, as well as a miniature version of the president’s proposed “Arc de Trump.”

Having been transformed for the event, the National Mall now hosts a giant Ferris wheel in addition to the stage, pavilions, and plywood replica of Trump’s arch. With an hour to go before the president spoke, the Associated Press noted that the grassy area on the National Mall was about half full, reporting later that crowds increased closer to the president’s expected start time. Empty chairs could also be seen, both in the background of O’Sullivan’s report and in a post shared by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who participated in the proceedings.

Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/empty-state-fair-revealed-moments-before-donald-trump-took-stage/

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The Bulwark
@BulwarkOnline
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Crowds flock towards the exit in the middle of Trump's speech.
9:16 PM · Jun 24, 2026

[cstanleytech]

1. What do Trump and Clint Eastwood have in common? They both are old white males that talk to empty chairs.

[crud]

2. Wow

This happened? I had no idea this was going on.

[Maninacan]

16. WoW

Can't get out soon enough!

[purr-rat beauty]

3. Still on those otherwordly percentages

I have yet to be handed any medications cut by 600%

He is out to fucking lunch

[FakeNoose]

4. We have 50 states - which one sponsored a fair for Chump?

I can't find any evidence that this is an actual "state" fair. Most of the state fairs take place near the end of summer, based on normal harvest times etc. State fairs usually include the judging of livestock, produce, various hand-made or baked items, etc. I can't see any of that here. This is all for the glory of Chump, and no other reason.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. This was supposed to be a "50-state showcase" event

in the spirit of a "state fair" and it seems those states that did participate had their tourism groups handle it. The rest knew the thing was hijacked and was a farce, and aren't participating.

I know the closest thing to a "state fair" here in PA is the Farm Show and that is in January. It's usually the County Fairs that mimic the traditional "state fairs".

[FakeNoose]

10. Yes I've been to our PA Farm Show - it's held outside of Harrisburg in icy, snowy January

But it's actually a very cool event, for people who are interested in that kind of thing. Minus the midway Tilt-A-Whirl rides and outdoor rock concerts, the PA Farm Show focuses on the real agricultural activities of our state. I found it enjoyable, but I don't attend every year.

[modrepub]

27. The Food

Is the big sell at this event. Have family in the area that attend every year, mainly to eat. And to see what the butter sculpture is that year.

[rubbersole]

12. tsf sounds pretty baked.

[Attilatheblond]

15. Truth in Labeling requires a change in how this is presented:

State of Despair Fair

[Faux pas]

5. He sure gets a huge thrill

out of spending OUR money, WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE STOPPED?????

[Mr.Bee]

6. It's not going to be stopped

trump and the republicants are 'spending like drunken sailors'.
Then when Democrats get in power will shout and stomp their feet about fiscal responsibility!
-and how we can't afford healthcare for all, Social Security and Medicare.
It's the lather, rinse, repeat, formula.

[OMGWTF]

9. The Two Santa Claus Theory -- run up the deficit when in power and bitch about it when you're not.

[in2herbs]

23. He won't be stopped. At best, it will be seized by US after he dies. nt

[Grim Chieftain]

7. Great! I love it!

They should have offered barf bags with the tickets. God, will this ever end?

[UpInArms]

11. that was not a "state fair"

that was a carnival and I could hear the barker in the background

[Farmer-Rick]

17. Yup, pedo Trump has turned

Our national Mall into a circus, just like he did with our democracy.

There will be nothing left of the mall when the pedo is finished killing our democracy.

I suspect that in 2028 he will lose the election....of course the Supreme Dancing Nazis are going to approve a 3rd term. To hell with the US Constitution.....then he'll claim he won and call out his cult followers to prevent a transfer of power.

[Zackzzzz]

19. Way Back, when he first came on the scene,

I called him a Carnival Barker.
I still cannot believe THAT MAN is in the White House.

And it's all Kayfabe*

*New word from DU.

[dalton99a]

25. +1. Martin O'Malley also said it

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/30/donald-trump-dismissed-as-carnival-barker-at-major-democrat-fundraiser

[Crowman2009]

30. A carnival in an empty parking lot.

[barbtries]

13. So they turned the National Mall into a carnival?

And what's with the military flying overhead? gawd damn these motherfuckers, they're wasting our money faster than they can print it.

[WestMichRad]

14. Not a state fair

They couldn’t, or didn’t, find a state to host it. It’s a district fair.

Our local county fairs have a higher daily attendance.

[Botany]

18. Is that video real? It looks like it because the crowd was really white.

Trump is bat shit crazy.

Btw a 600% price reduction in pharmaceuticals? So the drug store would give the drugs to me for free
If I have the math right then if the prescription cost was $30 then I would get the drugs for free and
then they would give me $150 too.

30 x 600% =180 so taking off the $30 cost we have 180-30=150

Botany =

[FakeNoose]

20. Big Pharma won't give them away free, they will PAY US to use their drugs

That must be what he means, because there's no other way to explain a 600% price reduction.

[Botany]

22. He just spews shit.

A secret vandal got into the reflecting pool and he had to use scuba gear got into the pool and
cut the bottom of the pool with a box cutter? The bottom of the pool is made of concrete.

Can that mother fucker hurry up and die?

He called President Obama a stupid son of a bitch. Barack Obama was the top of his class @
Harvard Law.

[OC375]

21. I know suburban MAGA "bumper sticker" families who don't know about this even happening at all.

Truly strange times we live in, to me...

I often question who this guy's real target audience is with some of this stuff. I think a lot of folks my age are extremely disconnected from politics, and just do whatever the guy next to them is doing. I did for a long time.

A lot of folks just want to keep their house or apartment or job, and figure all of the "keep on keeping on" will eventually pay off if they work a bit harder, for just a bit longer, making just a bit less than Dad did. That was the amended social contract to them as much as SS was to the one's before.

They still have hope the system of the 1990's and 2000's has enough gas to cross the line for them. It doesn't. It was never really intended to, but denial is hard especially when you are 75% of the way there.

Gen X needs to put 65 million votes behind breaking some china and getting the show rolling if we still expect air locks and flying cars. I think we got busy with work and didn't realize we were the only one's still in the building. Millennials and Gen Z never really got in the door. We need to walk away, adapt, and let the institutions of these old men and women who lied to us fail. There's no cake left for the servants.

It's time for us to politely punch out, to go home, and get a life. Things changed.

[cayugafalls]

24. Magats do not go to rallies to see trump, they go to reinforce their hateful world view.

I really think they a lot of them think trump is a buffoon deep down, but he supports hate so they support him.

The crowd leaving just adds meat to my argument. imho.

Peace

[OC375]

31. Retired MAGATS go to rallies.

Last edited Fri Jun 26, 2026, 10:09 AM - Edit history (3)

The rest just vote red hoping it translates into being half as content and successful as the Viagra, vineyard, Charles Schwab crowd from TV commercials that started showing up everywhere in Hokas after COVID.

Someday, if I tow the line… just, maybe...

That party ended years ago. You were staff, not a guest. There’s no cake left for the staff. You are Milton.

Go home. Look around. Take a breath. Get a life.

Then come see us. We have cake.

[Blue Owl]

26. That hog contest was a real spectacle

Oh wait -- that was the president's speech......

[Wiz Imp]

28. Sorry, but you can't remotely tell from that CNN video how many people were there.

It in no way shows it as "empty". The Bulwark video of tons of people leaving while Trump is speaking is far more damning and also completely contradicts the assertion that it was "empty".

[twodogsbarking]

29. Vandals kidnapped thousands of people. Authorities are conducting a story.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

32. MaddowBlog-Trump scrambles to exaggerate pitiful crowd size at Great American State Fair event

Stepping back, it’s worth appreciating the fact that the president is doing something inherently difficult: screwing up simple ceremonial duties.

Trump scrambles to exaggerate pitiful crowd size at Great American State Fair event.

Stepping back, it’s worth appreciating the fact that the president is doing something inherently difficult: screwing up simple ceremonial duties.

www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— TheBlackPage (Woke, DEI forever against fascism) (@theblackpage.bsky.social) 2026-06-26T22:04:03.659Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-scrambles-to-exaggerate-pitiful-crowd-size-at-great-american-state-fair-event

In case that weren’t quite enough, turnout for the event was — how do I put this gently — underwhelming.

An NBC News report noted, “Roughly half of those in Wednesday’s crowd of more than 1,000 wore Trump’s slogans or likeness on their clothes. For them, America’s 250th birthday was secondary to an opportunity to see the president.” The Washington Post ran a related report that noted, in reference to attendees, “The crowd thinly covered an area about the length of the National Museum of American History, smaller than some summer outdoor movie screenings.”

The New Republic added, “Dozens of attendees Wednesday were seen flocking toward the exits in the middle of Trump’s address, which was meant to kick-start the two-week event.”

Take a wild guess who did not appreciate the reporting.

On Thursday afternoon, the day after the poorly attended event, the president wrote on his social media platform:

The Crowd was incredible last night, packed to the brim — At least 45,000 people were there, with a huge Television and online audience. I wish we were able to have an even larger area, which we will be able to do on July 4th when I’ll be speaking again. The airplane flyovers and music were fantastic. Everybody stayed right until the end of my Speech because they loved hearing about a truly successful America.

Five hours later, either trying to convince the public or himself, he published a follow-up item, which read in part, “Last night’s Rally was packed — 45,000 people.”

An NBC News report described the president’s claim as “false,” adding that the actual total was “nowhere near 45,000 people.”

The fact that Trump appears to have lied about a crowd size is pitiful but predictable. He has, after all, been doing this since literally the first day of his first term.

But stepping back, it’s also worth appreciating the fact that the incumbent president is doing something inherently difficult: screwing up simple ceremonial duties.

[Kid Berwyn]

33. Crowd turned and evacuated in an orderly manner...

…when the traitor started to talk.

Seems to be a sign.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

34. MaddowBlog-Trump wants people to 'appreciate' his Great American State Fair flop

The president is looking for public gratitude in the wake of failure. He is likely to wait a long while.

It’s a problem that Trump’s “Great American State Fair” is an embarrassing flop.

Watching him ask people to “appreciate” his failure, however, makes the problem worse.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-06-30T20:15:06.252Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/great-american-state-fair-2026-trump-flop

When Trump headlined his own event last week to kick off the festivities, turnout was abysmal, and many attendees were seen leaving in the middle of the president’s campaign-style speech.

In the days that followed, the troubles intensified. NOTUS reported:

The 110-foot-tall Ferris wheel, a main attraction at the Great American State Fair for the country’s 250th anniversary, shut down for a couple of hours due to lack of power. The ice cream melted, but Iowa’s butter cow survived. And a display of the Confederate flag was removed from North Carolina’s booth after Gov. Josh Stein condemned the vendor for putting it up.[/blockquote]

The same report referred to “power outages” and “almost-empty or understaffed booths” before adding, “Rodeos and baby farm animals drew crowds but the fair appeared sparsely attended; there were no lines to get in, the lawn was fairly void of people and entertainers outnumbered guests at points.”

....Fox News has done its part to try to promote the gathering, even broadcasting live from the fair, but that apparently hasn’t helped. It’s easy to see the absence of attendees behind the on-air hosts and guests.

Every Fox News live shot today from Trump's post-rapture-like fair on the National Mall has been hilarious. Here's a supercut:

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-06-29T21:12:57.959Z

And did I mention that the event features a poorly made replica of the “triumphal” arch that Trump is so excited about? Because that’s an issue, too.

Everyone is talking about Trump’s mock up arch at the Great American State Fair, so I filmed it from top to bottom and front to back for everyone who can’t see it in person.

— amanda moore 🐢 (@noturtlesoup17.bsky.social) 2026-06-28T21:11:48.282Z

.....But it’s not quite that simple. For one thing, he’s the one who helped turned the event into a partisan affair. For another, he’s also the one urging people to “appreciate” his failure.