# Freedom 250 - The Great American State Fair **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 29, 2026, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470 "2026-05-29T03:08:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/361 "2026-06-26T15:39:28Z")
OK, Indiana’s putt putt golf is very impressive, but Maine kicks the excitement even higher with chairs and Maine facts on the wall! [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HLq6PwgW4AAo6sf.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HLq6PwgW4AAo6sf.jpg) Connecticut went even further and put a representative from Connecticut actually sitting in one of their chairs! [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HLsCTzBWUAAr0yh.jpg) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HLsCTzBWUAAr0yh.jpg) Meanwhile, the food hall lost power and all the ice cream melted, but they’re still packing in the crowds. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/VsH8j9Q2/Food-Hall.png) ](https://i.postimg.cc/VsH8j9Q2/Food-Hall.png) > **[Trump’s America 250 Fair Running Into Major Issues After Just One Day](https://newrepublic.com/post/212395/trump-great-american-state-fair-issues-day-one)** > > The “Great American State Fair” is already facing major problems—and it’s not only because states are pulling out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/362 "2026-06-26T15:48:11Z")
So much winning! ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/363 "2026-06-26T16:12:13Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > I expect it will be a shitshow of massive proportions. This from the opening post of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/364 "2026-06-26T16:30:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > So much winning! Jesus! Our church picnic (in a town of 600) had more people than that. And I guarantee you they had more fun! I mean, for such an event, I ask for better. And more than that, gentlemen, in the name of a humanity fading in the shadow of the fascist machine, I demand it. I demand it! I expect the booths to tell us real hard facts about the state. What did they do? How did they make our country great the first time? What are the best things about the state. What do we get? A cardboard Lincoln, a putt putt thing, and a painted backdrop that says MAINE and has chairs! Fercripesake what does that tell us? And I heard they ran out of food. How do you run out iof food when you have tens of visitors? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/365 "2026-06-26T16:32:36Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Fercripesake what does that tell us? It tells us a large number of our state governments are in open rebellion vs. the current criminal regime. Which seems like an excellent thing to demonstrate just now. If e.g. 20 states abstain and e.g. another 25 states phone in a raging insult like some empty chairs, we can readily identify which remaining 5 states to kick out after the decent sane people regain control of our country. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/366 "2026-06-26T16:42:48Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > It tells us a large number of our state governments are in open rebellion vs. the current criminal regime. If that’s true, then I feel better! > [@LSLGuy](#): > > readily identify which remaining 5 states to kick out However, we don’t need that. Start with Texas, idaho, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. Then we can negotiate if any more should go. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/367 "2026-06-26T17:03:31Z")
The Trump Temu Arch. [![](https://i.imgur.com/IRloGn1.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/IRloGn1.png) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/368 "2026-06-26T17:06:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > A cardboard Lincoln, a putt putt thing, and a painted backdrop that says MAINE and has chairs! Fercripesake what does that tell us? It tells us nobody is enthusiastic about participating in a celebration of our 250th anniversary when it’s a thiny disguised MAGA rally. Even the MAGA faithful don’t want to participate. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/369 "2026-06-26T17:30:37Z")
It is the event that is putting up a couple of chairs and a generic poster for every booth with non-participating states. If the states want to participate, whatever they put up will have to be approved by Trumpeople. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/370 "2026-06-26T17:52:19Z")
A first-person account from an attendee, who was not impressed. > Shortly after this encounter, an urgent voice booms from the opposite end of the Mall. The siren song calls me, and I’m halfway to the main stage when I realize the featured performer is an evangelical preacher. “Glory, glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on,” he orates, sounding more like Lin-Manuel Miranda than Jerry Falwell. “Onward, Christian soldiers marching forth.” He hasn’t been introduced and there is no signage, so I ask the handful of other spectators if they know who he is. They don’t. _Save me, Vanilla Ice_, I think, probably the first person on Earth to utter such a prayer. He’s not playing until tomorrow. > > An hour into my excursion, I have already been the subject of two exorcism attempts and my constitution is starting to falter. > **[I Went to Trump’s Great American State Fair. It Was Bleaker Than I Expected....](https://washingtonian.com/2026/06/26/i-went-to-trumps-great-american-state-fair-it-was-bleaker-than-i-expected/)** > > Opening day of the Freedom 250 event in DC was sparsely attended and shockingly boring. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/371 "2026-06-26T18:07:15Z")
Exorcism? I can’t imagine why the party isn’t more popular. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/372 "2026-06-26T18:10:38Z")
Indiana, miniture golf on a piece of plywood? Where they trolling him? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/373 "2026-06-26T18:35:02Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Even the MAGA faithful don’t want to participate. With the expected heat wave next week – 105° with a heat index over 111 on Wednesday – I’m guessing they will be staying away in greater droves. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/374 "2026-06-26T18:37:51Z")
Well, he did say America was “hot” again. Gotta give him credit for that while people are melting ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/375 "2026-06-26T18:50:01Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > The Trump Temu Arch. Sad! > [@bobot](#): > > > [@aurora\_maire](#): > > > > I expect it will be a shitshow of massive proportions. > > This from the opening post of this thread. It wasn’t that hard to predict. 😁 I did think that red states would put more effort into it. Granted, I’ve not seen pictures of the Texas or Florida exhibits, but I doubt they are much better than the rest. I suppose that the MAGA organizers were given money and after a Trump fealty fee, finders fees, consulting fees and kickbacks, they put together the cheapest shit they could get. And what better way to honor their hero. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/376 "2026-06-26T19:03:03Z")
> [@aurora\_maire](#): > > I suppose that the MAGA organizers were given money and after a Trump fealty fee, finders fees, consulting fees and kickbacks, they put together the cheapest shit they could get. And what better way to honor their hero. I suspect you’ve gotten the essence of the entire boondoggle right there. Do it on the cheap because so many hands were reaching out to put the funds in their own pockets. And that genuinely _ **does** _ commemorate the Trumpian Interregnum better than anything else could possibly do. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/377 "2026-06-26T19:31:51Z")
I can’t seem to find any _mention_ of a Texas exhibit other than the rough description in [USA Today](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/many-states-joining-great-american-164308048.html) from two weeks ago. > The Texas Economic Development and Tourism office is planning the state’s exhibit, Andrew Mahaleris, press secretary for Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed. > > “While details on Texas’ pavilion and exhibits are still being finalized, visitors can expect a dynamic showcase highlighting why Texas is both a premier travel destination and a national leader in opportunity, innovation, and freedom,” Mahaleris said in a statement. Perhaps they couldn’t finish it in time? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/378 "2026-06-26T19:33:19Z")
Or they couldn’t find examples that fit their stated criteria. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/379 "2026-06-26T19:37:17Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I can’t seem to find any _mention_ of a Texas exhibit The first USA Today article had a picture: [![](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/25/USAT/90698187007-16305.jpg?width=1320&height=916&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) ](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2026/06/25/USAT/90698187007-16305.jpg?width=1320&height=916&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp) It’s the same poorly-done crap as other states, just BIGGER. Texas: The “One-star” State ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470/380 "2026-06-26T19:39:46Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The first USA Today article had a picture: Ah. I asked Google to find _recent_ articles, sorted by date. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freedom-250-the-great-american-state-fair/1030470.md?page=20)